Female doctors prescribe fewer antibiotics

Female doctors are more sensitive to antibiotics use

16/01/2012

As the „pharmacy magazine“ reported, doctors prescribe antibiotics rarely as their male counterparts. Nine out of ten doctors prescribe antibiotics at least once a week. Of these, 66 percent even prescribe the bacteria killer daily. In terms of gender distribution, only 56 percent of female doctors prescribe antibiotics on a daily basis, while 72 percent of male physicians daily prescribe drugs of this type.

Antibiotics are not a panacea
Antibiotics are intended for the treatment of bacterial infectious diseases as they are very effective against bacterial strains. Over time, however, antibiotics have as „purpose weapon“ established with fatal consequences. Because antibiotics are successful only in bacterial inflammation. They are completely ineffective against viruses. Nevertheless, it seems common practice that physicians regularly prescribe antibiotics even in diseases such as bronchitis, although only five percent of coughing cases are causally due to bacteria. 95 percent of bronchitis cases are caused by viruses. The dramatic consequences of the casual handling of antibiotics include so-called antibiotic resistance. Infectious Medicine Florian Thalhammer of the Medical University of Vienna (Med-Uni) assumes that at least one-third of antibiotic drugs are prescribed incorrectly by physicians.

Antibiotic resistance is increasing
The World Health Organization (WHO) also warns against the frivolous, improper use of antibiotics, because this is according to authority, the main cause of the growing prevalence of antibiotic-resistant pathogens.

Antibiotic-resistant bacterial strains represent a major problem in medical practice. Diseases can sometimes only be delayed, inadequately or not treated at all, as the causative bacteria have become resistant to all common antibiotics. According to the WHO, around 25,000 people in the European Union die annually due to infection with resistant bacteria.

Antibiotics are also problematic in animal breeding
In addition to the partially frivolous and unnecessary prescription of antibiotics for patients, the use of antibiotics in animal production is also a significant problem. Due to the poor housing conditions in factory farming, the animals get sick. Without antibiotics they would usually not survive the fattening period. In addition, there is the illegal use of antibiotics in the European Union to increase the growth of animals. Antibiotic-resistant germs develop, which are passed on to humans via meat consumption. (Ag)

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Picture: Gerd Altmann