Skip to main content

The Antibiotic Myth

  • Chapter
The Antibiotic Paradox

Abstract

Antibiotics continue to be our major therapeutic resource for curing and preventing infectious diseases. Their introduction in the 1940s totally revolutionized the treatment of human infections, and the successes of antibiotics continue to prompt their immediate use when an infectious bacterial cause is suspected. The myth of the so-called “miracle drugs” persists today, however, as people unthinkingly demand antibiotics for ailments for which these agents have no value. In turn, their effectiveness is often diminished, tarnishing their reputations and putting us at risk from unresponding infection by drug resistant forms of bacteria.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this chapter

eBook
USD 16.99
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Available as PDF
  • Read on any device
  • Instant download
  • Own it forever
Softcover Book
USD 109.99
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Compact, lightweight edition
  • Dispatched in 3 to 5 business days
  • Free shipping worldwide - see info

Tax calculation will be finalised at checkout

Purchases are for personal use only

Institutional subscriptions

Preview

Unable to display preview. Download preview PDF.

Unable to display preview. Download preview PDF.

References

References Cited

  1. Cohen, D., Creek, G., and Sayers, R. Haemophilus influenzae infections in American children living in the U.K. Lancet i:101, 1982.

    Article  Google Scholar 

Bibliography Chapter 5

  • Broome, C. V., Mortimer, E. A., Katz, S. L. et al. Use of chemoprophylaxis to prevent the spread of Hemophilus influenzae b in day-care facilities. N. Engl. J. Med.316:1226–1228, 1987.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Classen, D. C., Evans, R. S., Pestotnik, S. L. et al. The timing of prophylactic administration of antibiotics and the risk of surgical-wound infection. N. Engl. J. Med.326:281–286, 1992.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Col, N. F. and O’Connor, R. W. Estimating worldwide current antibiotic usage: Report of Task Force 1. Rev. Infect. Dis. 9:S232–243, 1987.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Knapp, J. S., Zenilman, J. M., Biddle, J. W. et al. Distribution and frequency of strains of Neisseria gonorrhoeae with plasmid-mediated, high-level resistance to tetracycline (TRNG) in the United States. J. Infect. Dis.155:819–822, 1987.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Kunin, C. M., Lipton, H. L., Tupasi, T. et al. Social, behavioral and practical factors affecting antibiotic use worldwide: report of Task Force 4. Rev. Infect. Dis. 9: S270–285, 1987.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Morse, S. A. Antibiotic resistance in Neisseria gonorrhoeae: implications for future therapy. APUA Newsletter 8:4:1, 7–8, 1990.

    Google Scholar 

  • Parker, C. W. Drug Allergy. N. Engl J. Med.292:732–736, 1975.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Reid, G. and Sobel, J. D. Bacterial adherence in the pathogenesis of urinary tract infection: a review. Rev. Infect. Dis.9:470–487, 1987.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Seppala, H., Nissinen, A., Jarvinen, H. et al. Resistance to erythromycin in Group A streptococci. N. Engl. J. Med.326:292–297, 1992.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Wald, E. R. Sinusitis in children. N. Engl. J. Med. 326:319–323, 1992.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

Download references

Authors

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

Copyright information

© 1992 Stuart B. Levy

About this chapter

Cite this chapter

Levy, S.B. (1992). The Antibiotic Myth. In: The Antibiotic Paradox. Springer, Boston, MA. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4899-6042-9_5

Download citation

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4899-6042-9_5

  • Publisher Name: Springer, Boston, MA

  • Print ISBN: 978-0-306-44331-2

  • Online ISBN: 978-1-4899-6042-9

  • eBook Packages: Springer Book Archive

Publish with us

Policies and ethics