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Two-thirds of patients hospitalized for treatment of pneumonia are receiving excess antibiotic therapy that puts them at risk for undesirable side effects and complications. This finding is the conclusion of a study by the University of Michigan and the Michigan Hospital Consortium.

The investigators reviewed the records of some 6500 pneumonia patients admitted to Michigan Hospitals. Over 90% of the excess antibiotic therapy was due to extra antibiotics prescribed at discharge. The clinicians prescribing discharge medications failed to properly account for in-hospital days of antibiotic therapy.

Typical therapy for community acquired pneumonia is a minimum of 5 days and therapy is continued until you are free of fever for 3 days. Complicated infections may require 10-14 days of therapy.

Unnecessary antibiotic therapy places patients at risk for developing antibiotic resistance, the outgrowth of so-called opportunistic bacteria such as Clostridium difficile, better known as C. Diff., a possibly life-threatening allergy to any given antibiotic, or a combinations of complications that can bankrupt you.

Overmedication is often due to communication errors or improper documentation in your hospital record. Be certain to question your doctors before you leave the hospital about the need for those extra days of antibiotics.

Excess Antibiotic Treatment Duration and Adverse Events in Patients Hospitalized With Pneumonia: A Multihospital Cohort Study. Ann Intern Med. 7/9/2019.

DOI: 10.7326/M18-3640

https://emedicine.medscape.com/article/2011819-overview#a1

#Antibiotics #pneumonia #overtreatment