Edition: 325
One in every three doctors is prescribing antibiotics unnecessarily because of pressure from patients, according to a report carried out by the Consumers and Users Organisation (OCU). The result of this misuse of antibiotics is said to be counterproductive, as in Spain levels of bacteria resistance to drugs are now the highest in Europe. The director general of the OCU says the survey was carried out among 74 doctors surgeries and 98 chemists shops in different towns, and although its results are not applicable to all professionals they give an illustration of the situation and should make those involved in such practices think twice about what they are doing. The report is based on information gathered by investigators who visited doctors and pharmacists, saying they had been suffering from sore throats and high temperatures, which they had treated with paracetamol, but that they now wanted something more effective. If the doctor or pharmacist proved reluctant to give them an antibiotic, the ‘patient’ expressly requested one to bring down their temperature. The investigators found that 54 of the 98 pharmacists gave them antibiotics, 17 of them without asking any questions, and only on 15 occasions did staff ask whether the ‘patient’ suffered from any allergies to medication.
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