Doctors Overprescribe Antibiotics for Respiratory Infections
SEPTEMBER 24, 2010
An article in Infection Control Today highlights new research conducted by Infectious Diseases physicians Kevin Shiley, Ebbing Lautenbach and Ingi Lee finding that doctors frequently misuse antibiotics when treating patients hospitalized with respiratory tract infections. Their study was published in the November issue of Infection Control and Hospital Epidemiology. "[T]hese data demonstrate at least one area where antibiotics are commonly used in hospitalized patients without clear reason," the authors wrote. "Recognition of this may be helpful in developing interventions to limit inappropriate antibiotic use in the future." Neil Fishman, MD, director of Healthcare Epidemiology, Infection Prevention and Control, is also quoted in the story
