Wednesday, November 29, 20063
A doctor prescribes ampicillin for every infection
Observes someone who works at a pharmacy. It's either ampicillin or ibuprofen. The more interesting observation is that these same patients often later return with prescriptions for broader-spectrum antibiotics, prescribed by the ER.
Comments
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Anonymous
So What? He's prescribing cheap ampicilin for the patiet that comes to him with a viral illness. Then they go tot the ER and get an expensive antibiotic, like Levaquin, when the virus doesn't get better with ampicillin. Then they probably get a specialty referral for the same viral illness. Who's wrong here? I always prescribe Doxy or Pen for my patients who demand ABX for the viruses they don't need ABX for. I certainly don't argue with them. Arguments are for CME courses and articles in JAMA or NEJM. Reality is what we do. No-one has time to argue, we rubber stamp antibiotics.
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Gasman
Anon has it nailed while the article misses the big picture. The vast majority of patients didn't need any antibiotic whether in the office or the ER. The doc is merely prescribing placebocilllin.
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RJS
Acne?
Post a Comment »2:45 PM
5:08 PM
UTI?
H. Pylori?
Mmmmk....
8:49 PM