Facts and Myths Regarding Antibiotic Use in Community

Antibiotics are group of drugs commonly used in community. Antibiotics mainly effectifve for eliminating bacterial infections. There are many types of antibiotic in the market, including penicillin, cephalosporine, tetracycline, aminoglycoside, erythromycin, and chloramphenicol. There are also many drug forms for antibiotic can be found in the market, including oral, injection, eye drop, zalf, etc. Otherwise, antibiotic use in the population might be improper or irrational. These are some facts and myths regarding antibiotic use and explanations related to it.

 Antibiotics Should Be Taken on Fever Condition

This is not fully correct, because not all of fever are caused by bacterial infection. Fever condition might be caused by infection (viral, bacterial or parasite) or non infection. Management of fever should be based on the etiology. When the fever was caused by bacterial infection, it would be rational to administer antibiotic for patient. Other than that, doctor also will give antipiretic (paracetamol) for relieving the fever (relieve symptom).

Antibiotics Should Be Taken Completely

This statement is true, especially when antibiotic was given by a doctor. Of course, doctor must have given antibiotic in adequate dose and duration. Therefore it should be taken completely as given by the doctor. The fact is antibiotic should not be taken underdose or stopped before the complete duration of treatment. This is related to the resistance risk of antibiotics.

Antibiotics Can Be Freely Accessed in Dispensary

This statement is fully incorrect, because antibiotis are included in the class of drugs that can only be acquired under doctor prescription in dispensary. This is for avoiding the misuse of antibiotics in community. The misuse of antibiotics will potentially result in risk of side effects or toxic effects of antibiotics due to irrational indication, dose or duration of treatment.

Pregnant Women Are Forbiden To Use Antibiotic

This is not completely correct. It’s true that pregnant women are susceptible for affected by drugs or chemical substances. Therefore, drug use (including antibiotic) in pregnancy should be very careful. For unsafe or dangerous antibiotics, should be avoided in pregnancy. Otherwise, it doesn’t mean that pregnant women can not consume antibiotic at all, especially if she is in ill condition and requires for antibiotic treatment. There are some antibiotics that safe for use in pregnancy, one of which is amoxycillin. Therefore, when a pregnant women get sick, she should readily see a doctor to receive rational treatment. Pregnant women can only use antibiotic that belong to “safe” category for pregnancy.

Branded Antibiotics Are More Effective Than Generics

This is incompletely correct, because the active compound of branded and generic antibiotic is actually the same, only differ in its additional compound. Therefore, the efficacy should be the same, might only be different in its absorption, solubility etc.  

Newer Antibiotics Are More Efective Than The Older Ones

This is not totally correct, because the efficacy of antibiotics is based on the bacterial sensitivity toward antibiotics. Newer antibiotics are not always better than the older ones. When the bacteria are susceptible toward the type of antibiotic, even the old one will be effective for treatment. In contrast, when the bacteria are not susceptible, even the new one will ineffective for treatment.

All Antibiotics Must Be Taken Thrice A Day

This is totally incorrect, because drug frequency for each antibiotic is vary. It’s commonly according to its elimination half life. Therefore, antibiotic consumption should be based on the doctor instruction to ensure rational indication, dose, frequency and duration of treatment.  

Those are some facts and myths due to antibiotic use in community. Hopefully this article can correct any misperseption regarding antibiotic use in community.