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Supplement offers principles for reducing antibiotics overuse

The emergence of pathogenic bacterial strains that are increasingly resistant to antimicrobial agents is a growing national and worldwide concern. The widespread use of antimicrobials, whether appropriate or inappropriate, has driven the emergence and spread of resistant organisms.

Despite recognition by physicians that the resolution of viral illnesses such as the common cold or acute cough illness/ bronchitis will not be hastened by the use of antibiotics, many children who see a doctor for these conditions leave the office with an antibiotic. The major justification given by providers is their need to respond to the insistence of patients and parents. The reasons given, in turn, by patients and parents include: anxiety over "doing nothing" when they or their child have a high fever; misconceptions over the usefulness of antibiotics for viral illnesses; unrealistic expectations based on past experience that antibiotics will or should be given for illness with fever; the need to return to work; and the need for children to return to child care.