Last weekend I got a chance to read the Sunday papers, and noticed a
scary article about how our irresponsible and excessive prescribing of
antibiotics had lead to the evolution of bugs which actually feed on
antibiotics. Soon we won't be able to treat anything as all bugs will be
resistant. There was a number of sad stories about patients developing
resistant infections which overwhelmed them and didn't respond to any of
the available antibiotics. It suggested a nihilistic approach to
treating bacterial infection such as otitis media.
On Monday I did my usual "emergency" surgery and saw 37 punters, most of
whom have learned that if they have a cough they must tell me that they
are bringing up sticky green sputum if they want me to prescribe an
antibiotic.
I couldn't help recalling that a few months ago there were some other
scare stories in the press about pneumonia in children, some of whiom
had died. This was blamed on GPs' unwillingness to prescribe
antibiotics, and the approach of British GPs was compared unfavourably
to that of primary care physicians abroad who apparently use lots more
antibiotics than we do.
Do you ever feel that whatever you do you can't win?
Toby
--
Toby Lipman 7, Collingwood Terrace, Jesmond, Newcastle upon Tyne. Tel 0191-
2811060 (home), 0191-2869178 (surgery)
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