Antibiotics May Be Scrapped for Most Ear Infections
CNN.com
released a story on March 3, 2004 reporting that antibiotics may no longer
be what the doctor orders. According to federal health officials, two
leading medical groups are expected to recommend this spring that doctors
stop treating most ear infections in children with antibiotics.
About half of all
antibiotics prescribed to preschool children are for treating ear
infections. The problem that is arising is that because of the high
usage, more bacterial infections are becoming resistant to antibiotics.
Health officials believe if they can reduce child antibiotic use for such
infections, they can stop the rise of antibiotic-resistant germs created
by overuse of the drugs.
Dr. Richard Besser,
acting chief of the meningitis and special pathogens branch of the Centers
for Disease Control and Prevention admitted that this new recommendation
will represent a marked departure from years of common practice. He
states, "It will mark a dramatic change in appropriate antibiotic use."
Dr. Allan Lieberthal,
co-chairman of the medical committee reviewing the proposed new guidelines
stated, "Since the discovery of penicillin, when there is a bacterial
infection, antibiotics are given." He continued, "Because of the
increasing resistance of common bacteria to antibiotics, the importance of
limiting their use is essential."
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