Christiana Chiropractic, PC ...... (315) 409-0014

Download or Print This Article

Use Antibiotics Wisely
by Dr. John Macaulay

In order to have antibiotics that are effective in treating severe infections, care must be taken to use such drugs properly. Both patients and physicians should be aware of the dangers of over-prescribing antibiotics. Physicians prescribe 6.5 million antibiotics each year for pediatric patients with upper respiratory infections, even though nearly all such prescriptions were inappropriate. Statistics from the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) show that at least 25'0 of streptococcus pneumonia bacteria are resistant to penicillin today, but only 5'0 were resistant just five years ago. Nearly all of the bacteria that cause human infections are now resistant to the best choice for treatment of a particular infection. In a round of viral upper respiratory infection that swept throughout upstate New York, a high percentage of the people infected went to their physician and received an antibiotic. Those who did not consult their doctor probably recovered in the same length of time without an antibiotic. Keep in mind that antibiotics have no beneficial effect on viral infections. It's a fact that 85'0 of all upper respiratory infections, including sore throats, sinusitis, bronchitis and ear inflammations, are caused by viruses.

Our purpose is to educate and adjust families toward optimal health