‘Delayed Prescribing’ May Help Cut Down on Antibiotic Use

Should you take antibiotics for a simple respiratory infection? The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recommends that health care personnel prescribe antibiotics sparingly, for many reasons. First, the overuse of the drugs leads to the development of resistant strains of bacteria, a growing problem that is reducing the effectiveness of all antibiotics. The drugs can also have serious side effects, ranging from mild rashes or diarrhea to less common and severe allergic reactions.