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(Reuters Health) – In the United States, many people take antibiotics that have not been prescribed, according to a new study highlighting a factor that could contribute to the rise of antibiotic-resistant infections.
An increasing number of germs worldwide are already resisting antibiotics, making it increasingly difficult to treat infections that were previously easy to fight with drugs. This problem is largely caused by doctors who prescribe antibiotics to patients who do not need them, but those who use them without consulting their doctor beforehand are also part of the problem.
For this study, the researchers looked at data from 31 previously published studies to evaluate the use of over-the-counter antibiotics in the United States and the factors that might contribute to it.
The badysis revealed that one in four had already used antibiotics without a prescription or with the intention of doing so.
The study also revealed that almost half of the people had stored antibiotics or intended to do so, retaining the medications that had been prescribed to them or possibly to a child, parent or child. another family member.
"Our results show that US consumers are getting non-prescription antibiotics at flea markets, health food stores, friends or family, in pet stores or online," said Dr. Larissa Grigoryan, lead author of Study and researcher at Baylor College of Medicine in Houston.
"These results are important because, unlike most drugs that affect only one patient if it is misused, the misuse of antibiotics can adversely affect to others by increasing the risk of antimicrobial resistance, a growing global threat to health, "said Grigoryan.
When people take over-the-counter antibiotics, they often take unnecessary medications or choose a medication or an inappropriate dose, notes the study team in Annals of Internal Medicine. People can become sicker when they take medication themselves with a drug that is not effective for their disease and expose them to potentially avoidable complications. They can also reduce the effectiveness of antibiotics not only for their own consumption but also for others who need them.
Whenever someone takes antibiotics that he does not need, this contributes to antibiotic resistance, according to US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
A big part of this problem concerns doctors who prescribe antibiotics for viral infections such as colds or flu, most sore throats, bronchitis and many sinus infections and ears. Viruses do not respond to antibiotics and the use of drugs for viral infections helps bacteria to turn into super resistant bacteria that will withstand treatment in the future.
In this study, people were more likely to take antibiotics without a prescription when they did not have health insurance, did not have access to a doctor or a regular clinic, could not afford the cost of doctor visits or medications, could not miss work see a doctor or were embarrbaded to seek care for badually transmitted infections.
Among all the smaller studies, the proportion of people who reported ever using non-prescription antibiotics ranged from 1% to 66%.
"This seems at least partially influenced by the difficulty, inconvenience, and expense involved in getting appointments, which probably differ depending on the patient population," said Dr. Jeffrey Gerber of the US. Medical School of the University of Pennsylvania and Children's Hospital of Philadelphia.
"However, the determining factor is probably the fact that most people view antibiotics as generally harmless drugs that effectively treat colds," said Gerber, who was not participating in the study, by e-mail.
"It's not safe to take an antibiotic without a prescription," Gerber added. "Most infections – especially respiratory infections – do not require antibiotics.In this case, it is important that a doctor choose the right antibiotic (there are dozens, most of which act to very different way) at the right dose enough time to maximize the chances of curing your infection while minimizing the chances of the antibiotic hurting you. "
SOURCE: http://bit.ly/30QcfmM Annals of Internal Medicine, Online July 22, 2019.
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