Use of Antibiotics Needs to be Reduced, Says Chief Medical Officer of Britain

Britain’s Chief Medical Officer Dame Sally Davis has said that the use of antibiotics should be cut down drastically as it is giving rise to resistant bacteria leading to increased risk of death even from routine surgical procedures. Dr Davis went on to add that the rampant use of antibiotics could lead to development of new forms of disease, including an incurable form of gonorrhea. Antibiotics are often given to people with cough, sinusitis and sore throats but Dr Davis said that most forms of the conditions are easily curable without the need for antibiotics.

Dr Davis was backed by a number of experts, including the head of primary care at Health Protection Agency Dr Cliodna McNulty who said that doctors are being pressurized by patients to prescribe them antibiotics even for uncomplicated conditions.

“Doctors are faced daily with patients who expect antibiotics for uncomplicated infections that will usually get better on their own. This expectation puts a lot of pressure on the doctor to prescribe antibiotics which is often not necessary and cause increased antimicrobial resistance in the long run”, Dr McNulty said.

Source-Medindia