Just give me the antibiotics!

1. Growing up, I always took antibiotics for what most likely was a viral illness. My family always got them from the small Mexican store when flu season came around. I never really questioned it, penicillin and amoxicillin were always available at my house whether it was injectable or a round of pills. When I entered college, I learned about antibiotic resistance and when I got my first job in the ED, I was being educated about misconceptions and medication regimens while a patient was as well. I questioned my parents about this faulty use of antibiotics, and in truth, they didn't know the difference between a viral and bacterial infection. That is why getting antibiotics was just checking a box rather than an educated decision for them. This wasn't because my parents were ignorant, rather they never had the education to understand how it worked.    

   Prescription of antibiotics for a viral illness isn't done for three reasons. Antibiotics destroy bacterial cell membranes and since viruses are not cells, the antibiotics are not able to target viruses. Antibiotics also have side effects like diarrhea and nausea, where prolonged use can cause harm to your kidneys, livers or other body parts. Unnecessary antibiotic use can cause us to become resistant to antibiotics and when one gets a true bacterial infection, antibiotics don't help. 

   As I continued to work in the ED, I saw a lot of patients come in requesting antibiotics for a viral illness. Sometimes the physician would have the time to explain why antibiotics weren't needed, yet the majority of the time, 10 other people were waiting for triage and patient education wasn't necessarily an option. Some people believe that as a healthcare worker, one has to remain completely unbiased and always fulfill patients' demands. But, how do you say no to a patient that fully believes a round of amoxicillin will cure them despite no signs of bacterial infection? How does a busy ED change the possibility of getting antibiotics? Is it medical malpractice if a physician gives antibiotics at the patient's demand? Let me know what you think!

Kern, C. (2023, May 10). Why antibiotics are't always the answer for an illness. Mayo Clinic Health System. https://www.mayoclinichealthsystem.org/hometown-health/speaking-of-health/3-reasons-why-you-did-not-receive-antibiotics-from-your-provider