The US victuals and Drug Administr...

The US victuals and Drug Administration (FDA) has issued a final sway that will require new medication labeling designed to attenuate development of medication-resistant bacteria, according to a Feb 5 2003 recently made knowns release from the agency. The design of the rule is to bring the inappropriate prescription of antibiotics for customary ailments, including ear infections and chronic coughs

Prescribing antibiotics to children with ear pain and hurry accompanied by fever is common; however, the cause of these symptoms may be viral rather than bacterial. Antibiotics given to children with viral infections can hasten the progression in a continuously ascending gradation of antibiotic-resistant bacteria. Children then can pass these resistant bacteria to others.

Older adults repeatedly are overprescribed antibiotics for treatment of chronic cough with thickened sputum Thickening mostly often is caused by a virus and not a bacterial infection. Many patients would improve without antibiotic treatment.

The FDA's of the present day rule applies to all systemically absorbed human antibacterial medications. It also requires statements in physician labeling that of that kind medications should be used simply for treatment of infections deliberation to be caused by bacteria and that physicians should advice their patients about the particular use of medications and the importance of taking medications as directed.

Many bacteria species, including those that cause pneumonia, other respiratory tract infections, meningitis, and sexually transmitted diseases, are becoming antibiotic resistant. Several bacteria have unfolded strains resistant to every approved antibiotic.

FDA Publishes Final government to Require Labeling About Antibiotic Resistance (new release, Rockville, Md: US meat and Drug Administration, Feb 5 2003) http://www .fda.gov/bbs/topics/NEWS/2003/NEW00869.html (accessed 10 Feb 2003)

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