Antibiotics Literature Review

Step 2

Literature Review

Antibiotics are powerful medicines used to treat humans and animals. The importance of antibiotics cannot be under estimated because with proper administration of antibiotics most bacterial infections and disease can be effectively treated. Antibiotics kill bacteria or stop their reproduction. However, antibacterial cannot kill viruses or treat infections caused by viruses. These are diseases such as colds, bronchitis, flu and sore throats unless those caused by strep. Improper use of antibiotics is very dangerous to a person’s health, improper administration of antibiotics leads to bacterial resistance to common antibiotics. Therefore, a person should always ensure that the finish their medicine even when they feel

Researchers at Brigham and Women's Hospital and Harvard Medical School compared the rate of antibiotic prescriptions for sore throats to the rate of testing for group A B-hemolytic streptococci (GABHS) or strep throat. This bacterium is responsible for 15% to 36% of sore throats in children. These researchers used data collected from 1995 to 2003 as part of the US National Ambulatory Medical Care Survey and the National Hospital Ambulatory Medical Care Survey. It was found out that antibiotics were prescribed to 48% of patients where doctors tested for strep and 51% of patients where no test was done. A statistical analysis found no relationship between testing and the likelihood of receiving a prescription for antibiotics (Dr. Jeffrey A. Linder et

The FDA and CDC have launched a nationwide antibacterial campaign so as to reduce the demand and oversubscription of antibiotics. They have developed a nationwide ad campaign to emphasize the health care professionals on the appropriate use of antibiotics. The FDA and the CDC also distribute brochures teaching health care professionals on the proper use of antibiotics. In 2003, the FDA published a rule that requires specific language and administration of human antibiotics. Antibiotics would have labels indicating that doctors should administer them only when necessary. Doctors should also counsel their patients on proper use of these medicines.

Scientists and health care professionals are generally agree that the best way to decrease antibiotic resistance is through more cautious use of antibiotic drugs and through monitoring outbreaks of drug resistant infections. Research on the various mechanisms through which bacteria evade drugs is being steadily undertaken. One of the institutions undertaking this noble research is the FDA's National Center for Toxicological Research