People with sore throats, ear infections and sinus infections get
the wrong antibiotic at least half the time, researchers reported
Monday.
When people get the wrong antibiotic, not only
are they often not cured, but it can help drug-resistant "superbugs"
evolve, according to the researchers.
They think part of the problem is that patients ask for easy-to-remember
names such as "Z-Pack" and the study found that azithromycin, the
Zithromax drug that gives Z-Packs the name, is among the most commonly
misused drugs.
"Overall, only 52 percent of patients treated with antibiotics for sinus
infections, middle ear infections and pharyngitis (sore throat)
received the first-line treatments recommended by prescribing
guidelines," Dr. David Hyun, an infectious disease specialist at the Pew
Charitable Trusts, told NBC News.
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