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Antibiotic resistance is a permanent threat to the ability of health care to fight infections. Doctors who prescribe too much these drugs are one of the main causes. The researchers have now identified a new culprit – in some cases, you might want to blame the patients.
This is the somewhat surprising conclusion of a new study presented at the end of last week at the conference of the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP). exhibition in Orlando, Florida.
In a survey sent anonymously to nearly 500 parents across the United States, they were asked what they were doing with the remaining antibiotics. Nearly half of the parents surveyed (48.2%) said they had retained the remaining antibiotics rather than getting rid of them
. The study's lead author, Ruth Milanaik, said that the results show an "alarming" percentage of parents sharing or borrowing antibiotics, a common practice.
"This is dangerous, not only for antibiotics that have not been prescribed to them, but for whole populations that some antibiotics may no longer help when the target bacteria become resistant to them," Dr. Milanaik said in the statement. AAP press release.
Unused antibiotics given to other people
Of those patients who had antibiotics, nearly three-quarters (73%) said they had given them to someone who was not prescribed. It was not intended. 19659002] Unused antibiotics ended with a range of recipients. Most often, the parents said they gave them to one of the siblings of the child to whom the antibiotic was intended.
In some cases, they gave the remains to the child of a friend. They sometimes gave the antibiotic to an adult not living in the family home. Some parents have taken the antibiotic themselves.
In some cases, the antibiotic was given several months after its initial prescription. Just over 80% of parents reported sharing suspensions of antibiotics or liquid antibiotics; more than 73% said they shared antibiotic drops, nearly 70%, antibiotic creams and 55.6%, antibiotic tablets.
Parents may be tempted to share antibiotics. One reason is the high cost of prescription drugs. Parents can hope to extend an order on two family members.
Another problem is the high cost of health care. According to the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 12.8% of adults aged 18 to 64 are uninsured.
Parents who do not have coverage may be tempted to diagnose and treat their children. Others may be insured but must pay an expensive rate every time they get treatment for themselves or for their children
For single parents, it can be difficult for them to save time at work to take their children to the doctor. .
Potential Hazards
There are several potential disadvantages to this type of thing. When unused antibiotics are given to someone else, it is very likely that the dosage is incorrect.
Children usually receive liquid antibiotics at a dosage appropriate to their weight. Unless the recipient has the same weight, the dosage will be too small or too large. Contrary to the original order, there is no guarantee that the remaining amount will be sufficient to cover the entire duration of the treatment.
If a parent intends to give some of the remaining antibiotics to another child, I am afraid that they will not be taken into account to increase that amount by deliberately withholding some of the money. antibiotic intended for the child for whom it has been prescribed.
Taking antibiotics at a dose lower than the recommended dose or for a shorter number of days than recommended is a factor in the development of antibiotic resistance.
There are other concerns: 16% of parents surveyed reported giving their child adult medication. This is a problem because some antibiotics given regularly to adults are contraindicated or discouraged in children.
Sometimes the rest of the antibiotic can lead to a serious interaction with other medications that the child is taking. When unused antibiotics are given to a child unrelated to parents, what is the duty to ask if the child has any drug allergies?
How to Treat Remaining Antibiotics
So, how should parents handle the remaining prescriptions? Pharmacies in Canada take back the drugs. In some areas of Canada, they organize days in which they encourage Canadians to return unused or remaining prescriptions. In the United States, the authorities are recommending the disposal of unused drugs in the washroom, but this practice is not recommended in Canada.
Experts advise against the punctual sharing of leftover antibiotics and other drugs. Still, they like the idea of recycling antibiotics. Hospitals and long-term care facilities in the United States routinely donate drugs to clinics serving uninsured Americans. About 40 states have pbaded legislation allowing health facilities to do so. Sirum.org is a US based charity that facilitates this task.
Keep in mind that the Food and Drug Administration does not allow individuals to donate surplus drugs.
Canada does not have a well-developed system for recycling drugs. as in the United States
I think we should take this into account.
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