antibiotics for a cold?

[brownbook]

Yikes, I just read in another post that a nurse received antibiotics for a cold, after being told by a NP that she did not need antibiotics. What in the heck is going on.......it has been known, publicized, on Dr. Oz, etc., for at least ???? 15 ???? years that this is so wrong for so many reasons? I have even heard they are not needed for ear infections, sinus infections, etc

Of course I know there can be extenuating circumstances, but in the cases I hear of it is a normal healthy person or child with a simple cold or ear infection.

Do any of you still see this happening?

[ChristineN, BSN, RN]

While I do not work in outpatient settings, yes, I see this happening with my family all the time. Recently my Father-in-law went to the doc with a cold and the doc told him it was a virus and to go home, rest, and drink lots of fluids. My father-in-law is the sort of guy that wants meds for every problem and was not happy with this answer, so two days later he went back and was seen by the NP, who finally agreed to give him a Z-pack. I told him that he probably doesn't need it, but he insists because of how long the cold had lasted (which was not even a week) it must have been bacterial.

[canned_bread]

Over-use and incorrect use of antibiotics is my PET PEEVE. IT DRIVES ME NUTS. I have friends who stop taking antibiotics after they start to "feel better", and boy they better beware if they tell me of that - I GO NUTS. FINISH YOUR COURSE! And other friends who get antibiotics for a sore throat (no exudate or anything!) or a sniffly nose.

In Australia we recently had an antibiotic awareness week due to this issue. I spoke to my local doctor about his distribution of antibiotics, and he said he frequently gets patients coming in with the 'flu or cold and other viruses, and the patients simply demand antibiotics, and he explains it won't help, but they push and push for them! They think "Oh, it's worth a shot, it might help, I'm not the cause of resistant bugs!" but they don't realise that they are! I think doctors really need to stop prescribing them unless there is a reason, for example if a person comes in with a flu and chances are, due to co-morbidities, that that may develop to pneumonia or something more serious, well that's fine to give, but otherwise don't. A prescription of 2 days in bed and plenty of fluids fixes the rest of people!

[Rose_Queen, BSN, MSN, RN]

It's all part of the customer service aspect of health care- the customer is always right, and the entitlement attitude just has people bullying providers into giving them what they want rather than what they need.

[LadyFree28, BSN, LPN, RN]

While I do not work in outpatient settings yes, I see this happening with my family all the time. Recently my Father-in-law went to the doc with a cold and the doc told him it was a virus and to go home, rest, and drink lots of fluids. My father-in-law is the sort of guy that wants meds for every problem and was not happy with this answer, so two days later he went back and was seen by the NP, who finally agreed to give him a Z-pack. I told him that he probably doesn't need it, but he insists because of how long the cold had lasted (which was not even a week) it must have been bacterial.[/quote']

I usually get a Z-pack AFTER 6 weeks of battling a cold. And when I do get a Z-pack, it's like once every 3 years. Usually a Z-PAC is very helpful because of its anti-inflammatory properties. I have a reactive airway and atypical asthma, so it does help...I do agree that after a week is somewhat aggressive. And it really depends on the individuals immune system.

Once my niece was dx with pneumonia, AFTER my sister's many attempts for her child to be seen by the pediatrician. She had no fever, so they turned her away. She was really concerned about her cough. FINALLY after 3 weeks, she gets an appt., and they're looking at her like THE WORST mom of the year. GO FIGURE.