A new study in Clinical Infectious Diseases finds that an increase in antibiotic resistance is affecting older adults, reports Modern Healthcare. The federal government needs to step in and protect older adults from bacterial infections that are drug-resistant.
In one year alone, 2017, 11,800 people died from antibiotic resistant infections. A large cohort of people spent more than 400,000 days hospitalized in 2017. The cost was $1.9 billion.
Most of these infections were not hospital-acquired but rather arose in the community. Older adults are especially vulnerable because they are more likely to have compromised immune systems. More than 4,000 older adults died from these infections in 2017, a disproportionately high number.
A lot of physicians prescribe antibiotics for conditions that an antibiotic cannot treat. Overprescribing of antibiotics not only means an unnecessary cost to patients, with some risks, but it also leads to more antibiotic resistant bacteria. One recent study found that 46 percent of urgent care prescriptions were for antibiotics that were not needed to treat people’s condition. Pharmaceutical companies have not been developing new antibiotics to address the pressing need.
What you should know: According to the CDC, antibiotics only treat infections caused by some bacteria, such as strep throat, whooping cough and urinary tract infections. They are not needed to treat most sinus and ear infections. You should not take antibiotics to treat colds, the flu, most sore throats and bronchitis. Always consult with your doctor if you think medicine is needed to treat your condition.
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