Antibiotic giveaways by a growing number of supermarket pharmacies have raised fears among some physicians that they could feel more pressure to prescribe the medications when they are not necessary.
Overuse of antibiotics is blamed for the growth of resistant organisms such as methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus.
Several large grocery store chains with pharmacies have been marketing free 14-day prescriptions of generic versions of the most prescribed antibiotics as a way of helping parents in a flagging economy. Promotions typically run January through March, during the peak of cold and flu season. Read the rest of this entry »
Posted: January 29th, 2009
Washington (IANS): People are dying of superbugs because the antibiotic armoury has run dry, leaving one unprotected from the depredations of ever-changing bacteria, warned infectious disease researchers.
A superbug can evade antibiotics by producing an enzyme that devours the drug; creating a barrier to the drug; pumping out any antibiotic that reaches the bacterial cell and modifying the target of the antibiotic so the drug can’t bind to it. Read the rest of this entry »
Posted: January 29th, 2009
HEALTH chiefs in Worcestershireshire have launched a campaign about the misuse of antibiotics which can leave some people open to potentially dangerous infections.
Their aim is to educate patients about the correct use of antibiotics. Worcestershire Primary Care Trust bosses say GPs are often under enormous pressure to prescribe drugs which are not appropriate for the illness.
Thousands of posters and leaflets are being sent out to GP surgeries and comm-unity pharmacies across Worcestershire. They will explain how antibiotics will not cure colds, most coughs and most sore throats and how “bugs” can build up a resistance to antibiotics and overuse can make them ineffective. Read the rest of this entry »
Posted: January 25th, 2009
As the weather stays in the lower temperatures, students might feel symptoms such as a fever or sore throat, and want to take left-over antibiotics from a previous illness.
Bacteria in the body can become resistant toward the antibiotic and then unable to work in the future. Dr. Sheila Baker, medical director for health services, said antibiotics should only be used for bacterial infections.
“All antibiotics should be prescribed by a physician and should never be over-the-counter,” she said. “If someone has a confirmed bacterial infection, then they need to take antibiotics.” Read the rest of this entry »
Posted: January 25th, 2009
After the anthrax attacks of 2001, thousands of Americans took the antibiotic Cipro (ciprofloxacin) prophylactically in fear that they had been exposed to the deadly anthrax bacterium.
Unfortunately, while fewer than one in 5,000 had actually been exposed to the disease, about one in five users of the antibiotic suffered serious side effects, including hives, swelling of the throat, and difficulty breathing.
Even though many people think that antibiotics are harmless, these potent infection fighters actually can endanger your health and the health of your family if they are not used properly. Here are the top five myths about antibiotics and why not having the facts can cause you harm. Read the rest of this entry »
Posted: January 16th, 2009