Patients expecting antibiotics for common symptoms risk contributing to antibiotic overuse, making education on the dangers of misuse and resistance critical for both clinicians and the public. Study: Lack of Knowledge of Antibiotic Risks Contributes to Primary Care Patients’ Expectations of Antibiotics for Common Symptoms . Image Credit: New Africa / Shutterstock.
com In a recent study published in The Annals of Family Medicine , researchers investigate the predictors and prevalence of antibiotic expectations of patients with common symptoms and illnesses. Over 93% of patients expected antibiotics for one or more common symptoms, with higher expectations observed in patients in public clinics. Lower education, insufficient health literacy, and lack of knowledge about antibiotic risks are related to increased antibiotic expectations.
The inappropriate use of antibiotics Patients are frequently prescribed antibiotics for common viral symptoms and ailments like respiratory infections, colds/flu, and diarrhea despite clinical guidelines advising against this practice. In fact, current estimates indicate that up to 28% of antibiotic prescriptions in the United States alone are unnecessary. Antimicrobial resistance (AMR), which is a major public health concern that threatens to collapse global healthcare systems, is primarily due to the frequent inappropriate use of antibiotics.
However, reducing the inappropriate prescription of antibiotics is complex, as various factors, such a.