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The researchers found that 23% of the prescribed antibiotics were administered to patients who may not need it. They warned that the high rate of prescription antibiotics contributed to the progression of superbugs. ( Steve Buissinne | pixabay )
The world is struggling with a super-bacteria problem: strains of bacteria quickly become resistant to modern drugs, making them more difficult to treat.
However, a new study has found that a significant number of prescription antibiotics are not appropriate. The researchers warned that their findings suggest that experts may have underestimated the excessive prescribing rate, resulting in superbugs.
The study was published in the journal The British medical journal.
Overprescription of antibiotics
The researchers investigated by badyzing data from MarketScan Commercial Claims and Encounters, a private insurance company. More than 19 million people aged 0 to 64 years have filed an application for reimbursement of prescription antibiotics in 2016.
The badysis revealed that 23.2% of the prescribed antibiotics were not appropriate, 35.5% were potentially appropriate and 28.5% were not badociated with a diagnosis, which could also be mean that they were inappropriate.
About 2.2 million of the 14.6 million adults participating in the study had at least one unnecessary antibiotic prescription to treat their ailments. Of the 4.6 million children in the study, about 490,000 received an inappropriate prescription of antibiotics.
Acute bronchitis, upper respiratory tract infections and cough – common diseases caused by viruses rather than bacteria – were the most common conditions for which antibiotics had been prescribed.
The dangers of overconsumption of prescription antibiotics
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 2 million people in the United States are infected with antibiotic-resistant infections and 23,000 of them die each year.
"The overuse of antibiotics is still prevalent and affects a huge number of patients," said Kao-Ping Chua, a pediatrician at the University of Michigan and senior author of the study. "Despite decades of quality improvement and educational initiatives, providers continue to write prescriptions for antibiotics for diseases that could improve on their own."
In addition, excessive prescribing of antibiotics also forces children to come to emergency rooms for adverse effects. Some of the problems that result from improper use include allergic reactions, fungal infections and diarrhea.
The researchers hope the study will wake up the call of professionals to stop prescribing antibiotics to patients who do not need it.
"Antibiotic resistance is one of the biggest threats to public health in the world, and the large number of antibiotics that providers prescribe to patients is one of the main drivers of resistance. "Chua added.
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