When antibiotics experts say no to antibiotics

Abstract

Overuse or misuse of antibiotics is one reason for the emergence of antibiotic resistance. Here, we present four cases where antibiotics were started (or proposed) although they were not needed. The first case was asymptomatic bacteriuria where antibiotic therapy was initiated but then stopped after the case was referred to the infectious diseases (ID) service. The second case was a cholangiocarcinoma patient in whom four antibiotics were continued after completing the treatment for a remote infection. Hence, the ID team discontinued the unneeded therapy after considering that the inflammatory process was due to malignancy. The third case was a patient who was diagnosed with pneumonia in whom both antibiotics and an antiviral were initiated. However, antibiotic therapy was continued despite the lack of bacterial growth in the respiratory culture. Thus, it wasn’t until the ID team evaluated the case and decided that the pneumonia was viral in nature that antibiotic therapy was discontinued. The last case was for a patient who presented with dry cough presumed to be a pneumonia and was about to be started on antibiotics. The ID team noticed the patient had a history of decompensated congestive heart failure causing the cough. Antibiotics were not initiated when lack of clinical findings suggestive of pneumonia was also confirmed. These cases represent an example of daily occurrences of antibiotics overuse. Healthcare providers are encouraged to augment their knowledge regarding the safe and judicious use of antibiotics, as well as consulting an ID expert if doubts concerning the necessity of antibiotics arise.