Antibiotic Resistance 'one Of The Most Dangerous Global Crises Facing Modern World'

[naomi24]

//Public Health England (PHE) has launched the new "Keep Antibiotics Working" campaign to tackle the growing resistance to the drugs.

TV and radio adverts and posters have been produced to discourage patients from asking their GPs for antibiotics as the NHS heads into the busy winter period.//

http://news.sky.com/story/campaign-urges-people-to-stop-asking-for-antibiotics-to-prevent-apocalypse-11094616

Do you often ask your GP for antibiotics?

[mazie]

The last time I had them I was told by Sqad and Slaney that I needed to go to the doctors with a nasty insect bite. In turned out it was badly infected and needed a high dose of antibiotics. I think that was about 4 years ago. I would never not complete a course, I believe it can be harmful.

[anneasquith]

Danny and many others ( sadly) have COPD , never question their knowledge of when they have a chest infectious , they know the symptoms very well.,and the treatment required antibiotics/ steroids, .

[jackthehat]

Too many patients feel that they have not been dealt with 'properly' unless they leave the surgery with a Prescription.

There ought to be some way in which the GP could ask the Chemist to dispense a placebo; thereby satisfying the patients need to take 'something' to cure them and stopping the over-prescription of ABs.

Apparently, placeboes are just as efficacious in many circumstances as a 'traditional/legitimate' drugs.

[Islay]

Funny jack I was thinking that - I wonder how many would feel better with a little vitamin instead of a antibiotic

[Bathsheba]

"Sugar pills" were given some time ago. Both Pharmacist and Doc would be thrown out now.

Baths
x x

[dannyk13]

Anne, spot on.

[anneasquith]

I doubt its legal now to prescribe a placebo, just hope the patients who is receiving the placebo doesn't developed sepsis and die :-(

[jno]

it's estimated that almost half of the UK's antibiotics. are used on animals. The problem may be dinner, not doctors.

https://www.ciwf.org.uk/media/7247793/antibiotics-alliance-40pp-report-2015.pdf

The statistic is on page 5.

[jackthehat]

I know it's not legal which is why I said "There ought to be some way.....".

If someone is unwell enough to require ABs, the GP should be able to recognise that and prescribe accordingly. If someone feels that they 'ought' to have ABs for a throat/chest infection and the GP is not convinced that ABs will be effective, then the GP should not be expected nor intimidated into prescribing them.

[pixie374]

I think it's down to courses not being finished too. It leaves some bacteria (with no symptoms, maybe) and that mutates because of the presence of antibiotic. Or using antibiotics that are too weak.

[pixie374]

No, an explanation works better than a placebo.

[Sqad]

JTH ^^^

I agree entirely

But with litigation so profitable, easy and on the rise......the Dr. had better be right in his diagnosis as if it came to the courts and a battle between the Law and Medicine......there would be only one winner.....the Law.

[Sqad]

Pixie......maybe.......but that is no longer modern thinking and has not been backed up by studies.

[pixie374]

I couldn't see your link either, sqad. Personally, I prefer common sense to whatever current studies say this time. They change a lot...x

[Sqad]

Pixie...OK....some common sense.
1) Complete the course and kill ALL the germs. (leave one and you may get resistance)
2) Give a short course, not allowing the germ to develop resistance.

Which one is your idea of common sense?

[pixie374]

When was the last antibiotic discovered? Was it the 1950s? I remember a GP saying many years ago, that if new ones weren't found soon, everybody would be dying from a straightforward infection.

[pixie374]

1 sqad

[anneasquith]

Sqad . as it stands at the moment, are patients advised to complete a course of antibiotics ?

[pixie374]

Or a short sharp sledgehammer.... higher doses for a shorter time.

[Sqad]

pixie...I may be wrong but i thought the first antibiotic was discovered in the late 1930;s......Prontosyl ( I think)
Somebody will come up with a website ;-)