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Sublingual Immunotherapy as an Alternative to Induce Protection Against Acute Respiratory Infections
16:56

Sublingual Immunotherapy as an Alternative to Induce Protection Against Acute Respiratory Infections

Published on: August 30, 2014

Oral antibiotic treatment of infectious diseases

J W Sensakovic1, L G Smith

  • 1St. Michaels Medical Center, Newark, USA.

The Medical Clinics of North America
|February 24, 2001
PubMed

Insights

Antibiotic use is rapidly increasing, with millions of prescriptions annually in the US. Overprescribing, especially for viral infections, contributes to rising antimicrobial resistance, posing a significant public health concern.

Area of Science:

  • Pharmacology
  • Infectious Diseases
  • Public Health

Background:

  • Antimicrobial agent usage, including penicillins, cephalosporins, macrolides, aminoglycosides, tetracyclines, and quinolones, has significantly increased.
  • The United States sees approximately 150 million antibiotic prescriptions annually, with substantial amounts used in agriculture.
  • Overprescription of antibiotics, particularly for viral respiratory tract infections, is a growing concern.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To highlight the escalating use of antimicrobial agents.
  • To underscore the link between overprescribing and increasing antimicrobial resistance.
  • To address the challenge faced by practitioners in balancing effective antibiotic use with prevention of overuse.

Main Methods:

  • Analysis of prescription data and usage statistics for antimicrobial agents.
  • Review of current trends in antimicrobial resistance.
  • Examination of prescribing patterns for respiratory tract infections.

Main Results:

  • Antimicrobial agent consumption is at an all-time high.
  • A significant portion of oral antibiotics are prescribed for conditions that do not require them, such as viral infections.
  • Rising rates of antimicrobial resistance are observed in both hospital and community settings.

Conclusions:

  • The widespread and often unnecessary use of antibiotics is a critical issue.
  • Overprescribing contributes directly to the development and spread of antimicrobial resistance.
  • Effective strategies are needed to ensure judicious antibiotic prescribing and combat resistance.

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