Antibiotics – could shorter courses be better?
Antibiotics are one of the greatest advances in medicine. However, when used inappropriately they may have a negative impact on the person taking them and increase antibiotic resistance. Antibiotic resistance describes the circumstance when a bacteria has adapted in such a way that an antibiotic will no longer be effective to treat it. Antibiotic resistance is a global health concern and appropriate antibiotic use under the microscope. Evidence is emerging that shorter courses of antibiotics may be just as effective as longer courses for some infections. Shorter antibiotic courses have the benefit of being more likely to be completed, being cost-effective and having fewer side effects. It is thought that shorter courses of antibiotics reduce the exposure of bacteria to antibiotics, thereby reducing the speed by which the bacteria develops resistance.
Intro by Dr Candice Royal, Allergist and Paediatrician
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