What happens in the dentist’s office or urgent care center in Somerset today or with a doctor from West Windsor next week can have a long-term impact in New Jersey – and it can affect your health in ways you might not have considered. When used correctly, antibiotics are lifesaving treatments for potentially dangerous infections, but often people aren’t given information about the potential harms of antibiotic use. This is the time to encourage thoughtful use of these treatments, particularly as we mark the start of Antibiotic Awareness Week (Nov. 18-24) tomorrow in the United States and throughout the world.
The dentist’s office, urgent care and primary care offices are places where antibiotics are commonly overprescribed, according to data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). Dentists, family doctors and internists have reported prescribing antibiotics because they believe patients expect them or because time constraints make it an easier choice than the alternative — which is to take the time to explain why they aren’t needed. To read the full story.