JAMA thinks so, as parents told to “wait and see” significantly reduced antibiotic use for ear infections. This can satisfy both the patient expectation of an antibiotic during a visit, as well as the provider worried about antibiotic resistance.
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Will the AMA now come out with a similar statement supporting a “wait and see” attitude for ADULTS who are diagnosed with ear infections?
I often give antibiotics for ear infections on the outside chance the child develops meningitis/meningoencephalitis after I see him. At least i’ll be able to say I gave antibiotics in court. Sort of the same line of reasoning I use to admit all patients I see who have used cocaine. If they go out, use more cocaine and drop dead, at least I’m not the last schmuck victim with my name on their chart who did nothing.
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