When Are Antibiotics The Wrong Medication?

Every year, millions of people seek the help of their doctors to treat a cold, flu, or infection.  New research suggests that in almost 30 percent of these cases patients are prescribed antibiotics which may indeed be the wrong medication, the wrong dosage, or the wrong duration to be an effective treatment.  So, when are antibiotics the wrong medication?  Our Houston medical malpractice attorney seeks to address this question, and offers guidance for patients who may have suffered from improper use of antibiotics.

Antibiotic Usage in the U.S.

Antibiotics are one of the most commonly prescribed drugs in the U.S.  What many people fail to realize is that antibiotics are not effective in treating viruses, bronchitis, ear or sinus infections, or other viral illnesses.  Even so, the majority of Americans seeking treatment for these illnesses request, or are prescribed, antibiotics.  In fact, research indicates that more than 500 out of every 1,000 American patients are prescribed antibiotics every year.  The conditions where antibiotics are most commonly prescribed include:

• Sinusitis (sinus infection)
• Otitis Media (ear infection)
• Pharyngitis (sore throat)
• Upper respiratory infections

The prevalence of wrong medication prescribing, especially antibiotics, has been a focus of researchers in the past few years, especially with the predominant causes for prescriptions being viral infections.  Some of the trends in research data include:

• In 2011, research estimated that 842 out of 1,000 people were prescribed antibiotics within a single year.
• Half of all antibiotics prescribed to children in 2011 were found to be inappropriate in one study.
• Research further showed that 25 percent of all adult antibiotic prescriptions studied were not required as a method of treatment.
• In 2013, a Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) report stated that an estimated 50 percent of antibiotic prescriptions were not necessary, or were not “optimally effective” as they were prescribed.

These statistics highlight just how often antibiotics are prescribed in the U.S.  The consequences of this trend in over-prescribing goes much deeper, however.

Dangers of Over-Prescribing Antibiotics

The dangers of taking antibiotics when you do not need them range from mild side effects to potentially life-threatening illness.  Antibiotics can kill off bacteria in the body, which can result in allergic reactions, yeast infections, and other side effects.  If you do not really need antibiotic treatment, your body is being stripped of bacteria that otherwise could have benefitted you.

What is more concerning is the number of illnesses and deaths related to antibiotic-resistant infections, which is a growing concern for researchers.  According to the CDC, an estimated two million people become ill every year due to antibiotic-resistant illnesses.  Another 23,000 people die from these illnesses.  The CDC further warns that there are a multitude of conditions that can be adversely affected by antibiotic-resistant infections, which makes the death toll even higher.

Antibiotic-Resistant Illnesses

There are several antibiotic-resistant illnesses that contribute to illness and death in the U.S.  In 2013, the CDC released a report of the top 18 threats concerning drug-resistant illnesses in the U.S.  The most notable and dangerous illnesses are:

• Clostridium difficile (CIDFF): CDIFF is one of the most dangerous antibiotic-resistant illnesses in the U.S. Every year, almost 250,000 people become ill, and approximately 15,000 people die because of this infection. CDIFF causes extreme diarrhea, and is most common in people who are hospitalized, or have been hospitalized recently.
• Carbapenem-resistant enterobacteriaceae (CRE): CRE is an increasing concern, with the CDC noting that it is becoming increasingly resistant to antibiotic treatment.  Every year, 9,000 people become ill from CRE, and 600 people die.  Nearly half of patients with CRE infections in the bloodstream die because of the infection.
• Neisseria gonorrhoeae: Neisseria gonorrhoeae is the bacteria that causes the sexually transmitted disease (STD) gonorrhea.  This inflammatory infection is increasingly common with as many as 250,000 antibiotic-resistant infections occurring every year.  Yearly general infections top at nearly one million per year.
• Vencomycin-resistant enterococcus (VRE): VRE is another infection that is increasingly building resistance to antibiotics.  According to the CDC, there are an estimated 66,000 infections per year, with 20,000 of those being antibiotic-resistant.  Deaths from VRE are estimated to be 1,300 per year.  VRE can affect the bloodstream, urinary tract, and surgical sites.
• Methicillin-resistant staphylococcus aureus (MRSA): MRSA is perhaps the most widely recognized antibiotic-resistant infection.  Staph infections like MRSA are one of the most common healthcare-related infections in the U.S., affecting in excess of 80,000 people every year.  MRSA is also attributed to nearly 12,000 deaths every year.  The danger of MRSA ranges from skin or wound infections, pneumonia, or bloodstream infections resulting in sepsis or death.

Antibiotics, Your Health, Your Legal Rights

As a patient, you have the right to be informed about your health and any medications that you may need.  That includes understanding why the medication is necessary, what the benefits are, and what the potential risks and side effects are.  Your healthcare provider is responsible for informing you about medication and ensuring that you are provided the correct medication at the right dosage.  If your healthcare provider fails to do so and you become ill or injured, your rights as a patient may have been violated.

Medication errors, including over-prescribing, prescribing the wrong dosage, or prescribing the wrong medication, all fall under the umbrella of medical malpractice.  If you believe that you have been harmed after taking the wrong medication or dosage, or adverse side effects, you should not delay in contacting your healthcare provider or seeking emergency medical care.  Medication errors are dangerous, and can have a traumatic impact on your life.

To learn more about your rights as a patient, or if you are concerned that you may have a medical malpractice case, contact MedMalFirm.com.  Our team of medical malpractice attorneys is skilled in many areas of medical malpractice, including medication-related cases. Fill out our online form to request a free consultation of your case.