Broad-spectrum antibiotics are extremely strong, meaning that using too many could create bacteria able to resist multiple types of antibiotics instead of just one.
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Moreover, Baggs also noted that inappropriate use of antibiotics increases the risk of antibiotic resistance, including other side effects.
For the study, the researchers conducted a retrospective analysis of adult and pediatric inpatient antibiotic use from the Truven Health MarketScan Hospital Drug Database (HDD) from January 1, 2006, to December 31, 2012.
Over this period, 55 percent of the patients who were discharged from the hospital have taken at least one dose of antibiotic. ‘Those are the big guns, and with increased use of them the worry is that that’s leading to the bacteria that’s broadly resistant, ‘ Mehrotra said.
Regardless, the CDC authors noted that “this trend is worrisome in light of the rising challenge of antibiotic resistance”.
A new study has found that overall use of antibiotics in U.S. hospitals has not declined in recent years, despite growing awareness of antibiotic resistance.
CDC researchers found a significant increase in the use of broad spectrum antibiotics – third- and fourth-generation cephalosporins, macrolides, glycopeptides, β-lactam/β-lactamase inhibitor combinations, carbapenems and tetracyclines.
‘In the hospital, where the sickest patients are, there’s been an increase in broad-spectrum antibiotics, ‘ said Dr. Ateev Mehrotra of Harvard Medical School, who coauthored a commentary in the journal.
While the question of why doctors are increasingly turning to more powerful antibiotics was not explored in the study, the authors have some theories.
“We’ve known for decades that there are too many antibiotics being used”, Mehrotra said. They hope this will help them better understand the reasons for the high prescription rates and give them a way to cut down the numbers.
To get doctors to prescribe fewer antibiotics, several tactics could be tried, Mehrotra said. Patients can also do their part by asking their doctor why they are prescribed antibiotics and if its use is really necessary.
Before the United Nations gathering, Ramanan Laxminarayan, director of the nonprofit Center for Disease Dynamics, Economics and Policy, is scheduled to hold a meeting of health experts to focus attention on the problem.
“In fact, we now have many multidrug-resistant infections that are not treatable with any antibiotics we have, and consequently there is now a call for global action to solve the problem”, Laxminarayan said.
An estimated 23,000 people die each year as a result of being infected with an antibiotic-resistant organism, according to the CDC, of which an estimated two million people are infected.
Presently doctors have seen many multi-drug resistant infections, which can not be cured with medication.
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“Overall antibiotic use did not change significantly over time”, the study wrote.
