Antibiotic misuse, sometimes called antibiotic abuse or antibiotic overuse, refers to the misuse or overuse of antibiotics, with potentially serious effects on health. It is a contributing factor to the creation of multidrug-resistant bacteria, informally called "super bugs
A 2003 study concerning the proper use of antibiotics in the emergency room revealed that 99% of instances contained some sort of error. Out of the 100 patients studied, 81 inappropriately received a prescription for fluoroquinolone. Out of these cases, 43 did not call for fluoroquinolone as a first-line agent, 27 presented no evidence of bacterial infection (based on documented evaluations), and 11 had questionable need for such therapy. Of the 19 cases that both called for and received fluoroquinolone, only one received both the correct dose and duration of therapy.[2]
In a 1994 study of fluoroquinolone issued in a long-term care setting, 75% of the examined prescriptions were judged to be inappropriate. More than 50% did not call for fluoroquinolone as the first-line agent.[3]
Antibiotics can cause severe reactions, increasing hospitalization: in the United States, this accounts for billions of dollars of expense within the healthcare system. Adverse effects from antibiotics account for nearly 25% of all adverse drug reactions amongst hospitalized patients.[4] Negative reactions to fluoroquinolones are easily misdiagnosed as a seizure disorder, CNS problems, or psychiatric problems. [5] In Italy, doctors report fluoroquinolones among the top three prescribed drugs responsible for adverse neurological and psychiatric effects. The neuropsychiatric effects include tremor, confusion, anxiety, insomnia, agitation, and psychosis (in severe cases). Among the quinolones, moxifloxacin is reported as having the highest propensity
Though antibiotics are required to treat severe bacterial infections, misuse has contributed to a rise in bacterial resistance. The overuse of fluoroquinolone and other antibiotics fuels antibiotic resistance in bacteria, which can inhibit the treatment antibiotic-resistant infections.[7][8][9] Their excessive use in children with otitis media has given rise to a breed of bacteria resistant to antibiotics entirely.[10]
Widespread use of fluoroquinolones as a first-line antibiotic has led to decreased antibiotic sensitivity, with negative implications for serious bacterial infections such as those associated with cystic fibrosis, where quinolones are among the few viable antibiotics.to cause CNS toxicity.[
