re: Antibiotics are More Dangerous Than You Thought

Katie B — Fri, 16 Jan 2009 03:05:33 GMT

I had spinal meningitis when I was six--penicillin saved my life.

re: Antibiotics are More Dangerous Than You Thought

samurai — Wed, 14 Jan 2009 13:54:03 GMT

The real sin is that antibiotics are over-prescribed for superfluous matters. Antibiotics are not bad. If you got an intestinal parasite from adulterated water in Mexico, Flagyl would be your best friend.

re: Antibiotics Are More Dangerous Than You Thought

rablpn — Tue, 13 Jan 2009 19:08:44 GMT

I try to tell people this but everyone seems to think that have to take SOMETHING when they're sick. I had a very nasty and painful sinus infection this past fall. People couldn't believe that I didn't go to the doctor for an antibiotic.
Back in the '70's my microbiology professor warned about antibiotic resistance developing when antibiotics were given for viral infections. One doctor told me, "If I don't prescribe antibiotics the patients will go to a doctor who will." This doctor knew that antibiotics were worthless against a cold but he prescribed them anyway to keep his patients coming back.
As a nurse I try to educate people about this issue but they don't want to hear it. They'll say, "But MY infection was REALLY bad and I needed the antibiotic. Besides, I got better after taking it." How do you change those deeply ingrained ideas about antibiotics?