Re: Feeding the paranoia
Doctors overuse antibiotics. Mostly because of patient demand and perception. But also out of ignorance.
Which of you, faced with a "spider bite" which is really an abcess from a MRSA infection, would feel comfortable treating it with surgical drainage and local wound care alone? I can assure you that perhaps 1 or 2% of my patient population would accept this as adequate treatment. I can assure you that for most healthy people it is a good and appropriate treatment and will result in a cure of the infection. Most doctors, however, treat with antibiotics first, and only when the infection is really bad do they bother to send the patient to have surgical drainage. I don't think it is because of bad intent, rather ignorance is at fault.
I use two medicines in my practice every day, pain meds and antibiotics. I can tell you now I am more selective about what and how much I prescribe versus 10 years ago.
