The article references a move on the part of the Food and Drug Administrarion seeking to add labels to antibiotic prescriptions that would caution physicians to prescribe them only when needed for patients to use them as directed.

According to FDA Commissioner Jane Henney, M.D., "Antibiotic resistance is a serious and growing public health concern in the United States and the world. When we avoid the unnecessary use of antibiotics we help preserve their effectiveness."

Under the FDA proposal the New labeling to physicians would include the following:
- only prescribe antibiotic when a bacterial infection exists
- use the antibiotic designed to address the organism involved
- if tests show a different organism to be involved, modify the antibiotic being used

A 1992 study demonstrated that 21% of antibiotic prescriptions were written to address viral infections, for which they are ineffective. Lest you think this is a US problem, in China, 62% of antibiotic use was for the wrong organism, again applications for which they are ineffective. I don't want you to think the Chinese are out in left field, the World Health Organiztion estimates that 50% of antibiotic use in the US and Canada is inappropriate.