The Indian Medical Association (IMA) on Saturday asked doctors not to prescribe antibiotics for adults suffering from common cold, bronchitis, sore throat or sinus infections. These types of infections are the most common reason for visits to the doctor in this period and for outpatient antibiotic prescriptions for adults, it said. "Over 50 percent of antibiotic prescriptions may be unnecessary or inappropriate in the outpatient setting," said National President of IMA.
Inappropriate use of antibiotics for Acute Respiratory Tract Infections (ARTI) is an important factor contributing to the spread of antibiotic-resistant infections, which is a public health threat, he added. The IMA has issued a set of guidelines according to which doctors should communicate to their patients suffering from common cold that symptoms can last up to two weeks. "One should intervene only if the symptoms…
