THE ISSUE: Misuse of antibiotics

OUR OPINION: Doctors and patients must resist temptation to overuse antibiotics

The federal Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the American Academy of Family Physicians, the American College of Physicians, the American Society of Internal Medicine and the Infectious Disease Society of America have guidelines on the appropriate use of antibiotics for respiratory infections.

They tell consumers in effect, “Don’t demand them,” and medical doctors, “Don’t prescribe them.”

Half the 100 million antibiotic prescriptions written each year aren’t necessary, the CDC contends, and many are written by physicians to appease pushy patients. Three-quarters are written to treat respiratory infections, most of which are caused by viruses.

The S.C. Department of Health and Environmental Control through its “Get Smart: Know When Antibiotics Work” campaign is spreading the word about use of medicines. The campaign kicks off in Columbia with an event for children and parents during the EdVenture Children’s Museum’s after-school program on Oct. 6, according to Jerry Gibson, M.D., director of DHEC’s Bureau of Disease Control.

“Misuse and overuse of antibiotics is creating a growing number of bacteria that have become resistant to commonly used antibiotics,” Gibson said. “That makes bacterial infections harder to treat and sometimes results in what we call ‘superbugs,’ or bacteria that do not respond to any treatment.

“Antibiotic resistance has become one of the most pressing public health issues,” Gibson said. “It is important to practice the safe use of antibiotics and to understand when they are not appropriate.

“Everyone, especially parents of young children, need to know that antibiotics kill bacteria,” he said. “Antibiotics do not kill viruses such as colds or flu, most coughs and bronchitis, sore throats not caused by strep, or runny noses. Parents often insist that their health care provider prescribe antibiotics for viral infections, however treating a viral infection with an antibiotic does not work and it may actually be harmful by placing the child at risk for dangerous side effects. So talk to your health care provider about careful antibiotic use.”

Unnecessarily buying antibiotics also pushes up health care costs and inflates drug manufacturers’ profits.

Whether it’s using antibiotics when and how prescribed or obtaining inoculations against diseases as instructed, to win the war against infection, we’ve got to play smart. Medicines must be used in complement with the God-given ability of the human body to fend off disease.

Being good patients and practicing medicine courageously can make a difference on America’s health.

The South Carolina Careful Antibiotic Use campaign is part of the national Get Smart campaign from the CDC. For more information visit www.cdc.gov/drugresistance/community/index.htm and www.scdhec.gov/health/disease/sccause.

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