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Self-treatment with antibiotics
M S Puczynski1, J Gonzalez, J P O'Keefe
1Department of Pediatrics, Loyola University Medical Center, Maywood, Illinois 60153.
Abstract:
Two hundred seventy patients who presented with symptoms assumed to be infectious in origin were evaluated for self-treatment with antibiotics. Urine was tested for the presence of antimicrobials by agar diffusion assay using Bacillus subtilis as the test organism. Seventeen patients (6%) were found to have antibiotic activity in their urine, but only five admitted to self-medication. Age, sex, and duration of symptoms were unrelated to the incidence of self-medication. Self-medication was seen more frequently in patients presenting with upper respiratory infection symptoms (12%) when compared to other symptom complexes (P less than .002). This study suggests that self-medication with antibiotics can be an important problem in patients who present to emergency departments, as this practice could have an impact on clinical diagnosis and bacterial cultures.
Insights
Self-medication with antibiotics is a significant issue, especially for upper respiratory infections. This practice, detected by antibiotic activity in urine, can affect medical diagnoses and lab results.
Area of Science:
- Microbiology
- Clinical Medicine
- Pharmacology
Background:
- Antibiotic self-medication is a growing concern globally.
- Understanding the prevalence and patterns of self-medication is crucial for public health.
- Patients often self-treat presumed infectious conditions without professional guidance.
Purpose of the Study:
- To evaluate the prevalence of antibiotic self-medication among patients presenting with infectious symptoms.
- To identify factors associated with antibiotic self-medication.
- To assess the potential impact of self-medication on clinical diagnosis and laboratory testing.
Main Methods:
- A cohort of 270 patients with presumed infectious symptoms was studied.
- Urine samples were analyzed for antimicrobial activity using agar diffusion assay with Bacillus subtilis.
- Patient demographics, symptoms, and self-medication history were recorded.
Main Results:
- Antibiotic activity was detected in the urine of 17 patients (6%).
- Only five patients admitted to self-medicating with antibiotics.
- Self-medication was significantly more common in patients with upper respiratory infection symptoms (12%) compared to other conditions (P < .002).
- Age, sex, and symptom duration did not correlate with self-medication incidence.
Conclusions:
- Antibiotic self-medication is prevalent in patients seeking care for infectious symptoms.
- The practice is particularly noted in cases of upper respiratory infections.
- Self-medication can complicate clinical assessments and interfere with microbiological diagnostic accuracy.