AMA to LA Times: Caution must be practiced when considering antibiotics

Los Angeles Times
Letter to the Editor

To the Editor:

The American Medical Association (AMA) applauds your recent editorial, "Beating the staph superbug" (Jan. 14) for accurately highlighting the threat that overuse or misuse of prescription antibiotics poses to our nation's public health.

To preserve the effectiveness of these treatments, caution must be practiced when considering their use. Over time, taking unnecessary antibiotics can cause bacteria to become resistant, making once potent treatments ineffective.

In recent years, resistant bacterial infections have become a growing problem that cannot be ignored. The AMA has worked to educate physicians about the role they play in this battle by appropriately prescribing antibiotics to patients in need. It is crucial that physicians help their patients understand their antibiotic therapy, the importance of compliance with the prescribed regimen, and the consequences of antimicrobial resistance.

Sincerely,

Ronald M. Davis, MD
President, American Medical Association