News
Monday, January 31, 2011
Experts urge against unnecessary use of antibiotics
KARACHI: Health experts urged people and physicians to avoid unnecessary use of antibiotics as its random prescriptions may further add to disease.
These views were expressed at a seminar, organised recently under the auspices of Indus Hospital (IH) in collaboration with the Infectious Diseases Society of Pakistan (IDSP) here.
IH’s clinical microbiologist and director laboratory services Dr Altaf Ahmed said infectious diseases remain a major source of morbidity and mortality in the country. He said there was a dire need for evidence based treatment methods in resource limited healthcare facilities and community based clinics.
Dr Naseem Salahuddin, head of infectious diseases stated that although fever is the most prominent symptom of infections, however, it is also by far and large misunderstood and mismanaged by clinical practitioners.
She said that tests and specific medicines, if needed, might be ordered after careful consideration. “Doctors need to really start listening to their patients, instead of prescribing tests and medicines randomly,” she said.
ga Khan University Hospital’s Prof Microbiology Dr Afia Zafar said family physicians should rationalise the use of antibiotics before prescribing them by taking into account the clinical symptoms of the diseases.”
She said all antibiotics are not same, as they act against different types of bacteria at various body sites. Random prescriptions only complicate the original disease and make it difficult for the physician to come to an accurate diagnosis, she concluded. staff report
Courtesy www.dailytimes.com.pk