Antibiotic Overuse Puts Patients at Risk Says CDC

The overuse of antibiotics in hospitals and clinics is helping fuel the growth of strong and dangerous bacteria, according to a warning from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).

During a press briefing on Tuesday, CDC Director Dr. Tom Frieden said the best way to protect patients is to "protect antibiotics" -- that is, prescribe them to patients only when absolutely necessary.

Why is it important to conserve antibiotics? It is not because there is a shortage of drugs in the U.S. The real reason has to do with what they are used to treat. Bacteria and fungi are resilient organisms and, like cockroaches, can quickly adapt and become resistant to the treatment that once was killing them. Knowing this, health officials want U.S. patients to cut down on use of antibiotic treatment in cases where it is unneeded. Exposing an infection to antibiotics increases the frequency that infection sees the drug, boosting the likelihood it will later come back displaying resistances to the prescribed antibiotic. According to recently released CDC data; the U.S. saw at least 2,049,442 illnesses and over 23,000 deaths caused by antibiotic resistant bacteria or fungal infections last year alone.

Alarmingly, some hospitals and clinics prescribe three times the number of antibiotics than other medical facilities with the same average number and type of patients, implying that there is already a culture of antibiotic over-prescribing in some circles, according to a recent study conducted by health officials. The CDC has outlined some ways hospitals and pediatricians can improve their prescribing practices through new "antibiotic stewardship programs" designed to oversee and regulate appropriate antibiotic use.

Theses programs include appointing a lead antibiotic "overseer," and the re-assessment of all antibiotic prescriptions within 48 hours after they are first prescribed.

Parents are also addressed. It has been acknowledged by health officials that parents worried for their sick children often pressure doctors into prescribing antibiotics in unnecessary situations, such as a potential viral infection. Unlike bacterial or fungal infections, viral infections cannot not cured by antibiotics and will not lessen the child's symptoms.

More on the latest CDC antibiotic recommendations for both doctors and patients can be viewed online.

The recent CDC study was published on March 4.