Dentists Overprescribing Antibiotics and Avoiding Health Care Reform
In a great Grand Rounds at Get Better Health, MD Whistleblower had a couple good observations:
- Dentists prescribe prophylactic antibiotics (ATBs) with routine recklessness… Many dentists irrationally prescribe ATBs before teeth cleanings and other procedures.
- Not a syllable in the ~2000 page health care reform law that affects dentists.
Dr. Kirsch has a very well written article along with nicely placed puns, but this seems to sum it up well:
When physicians and dentists prescribe unnecessary ATBS, there are many adverse consequences. Here is a sampling.
- Money is wasted.
- Resistant bacteria emerge that can be more difficult to treat.
- It teaches patients to expect and demand ATBs when they are not indicated.
- Potential of serious side-effects and drug interactions.
Similar Posts:
- Why an EKG is not a good screening test for heart disease
- Leading medical journal calls for more action on diabetes
- Health Tourism in UAE Keeps Up
- Doctors limit new Medicare patients
- CBO Adds Billions of Dollars for Discretionary Spending Cost Estimate
