Antibiotic overuse: The role of infectious disease specialists
The CDC’s report on the overuse of antibiotics raises concerns that the infectious disease community has been aware of for decades. Unfortunately, systemic action to address these concerns is hindered by misperceptions about antibiotic therapy: that it is safe, inexpensive, easy to prescribe, and that early administration is the best approach.
At first blush, antibiotic therapy appears to be safe. But there can be dangerous complications to its use. Clostridium …