Doctors’ Group Says Antibiotics Can Be Taken for Shorter Periods.

I read this article this afternoon: “Doctors’ Group Says Antibiotics Can Be Taken for Shorter Periods.” Some key points:

👉 “The American College of Physicians (ACP), says that for several types of infections, shorter courses of antibiotics do the job — and even do it more safely.”
👉 “In general, the ACP says, [certain non-complicated infections] can be managed with five to seven days of antibiotics, or even three days in certain cases, instead of the traditional 10 days or more.”
👉 Antibiotics kill the good bacteria.
👉 Antibiotic overuse contributes to antibiotic-resistant bacteria.
👉 “One particular concern, Fincher said, are potentially fatal gut infections caused by antibiotic-resistant C. difficile bacteria. Those infections often arise after a person has had antibiotic treatment that destroyed many of the good bacteria in the gut.”
👉 “An estimated 30% of antibiotic prescriptions in the United States are unnecessary…”

⭐ ⭐”Ask your doctor, ‘Do I really need this?'” Boucher advised. The next question, she said, can be about duration: If the prescription is for 10 days — the “default” for many doctors, the ACP says — patients can again ask why.” ⭐⭐

Ask the questions! Trust me.