Too Many Antibiotics

Tools

Too Many Antibiotics

By Justin Foss, Reporter

By Justin Foss

Cedar Rapids - If you've ever gone to the doctor expecting to get a pill to make you better, you're probably part of a growing trend.

And it's not a good trend.

Doctors say a society of pill poppers is spreading a new antibiotic resistant bacteria, called MRSA - better known as the super-bug.

You go to see your doctor, and they say they don't have any drugs to treat you. You'll have to tough it out.

"It makes me feel like what was the point of going to the hospital," said a young mother.

Doctors say it's that attitude that is contributing to the recent super-bug scare. It's an infection causing bacteria, that is resistant to many antibiotics.

"So now we're left with using our stronger antibiotics," said Dr. Rob Braksiek. "Essentially we're running out of antibiotics at this point."

Braksiek says they do have some antibiotics that do treat the bacteria.

The problem isn't new, doctors used to treat it with pills, but they've found some people now have an antibiotic resistant form. Doctors and medical professionals are attributing that to using those antibiotics too much.

"Its not just parents," said Carol Watson, Senior VP of Clinical Services. "I think a lot of people go to the physician and think if I don't come away with a prescription, whether its an antibiotic or a pain pill, then I truly haven't had a good visit."

"Yeah, I feel like that sometimes too," said another mother from Cedar Rapids. "Because I have kids, when I bring my kids to the doctor, I expect them, to give them something. Or, they'll be back in there a week later."

Yet, some folks KCRG TV 9 spoke with said the expectation wasn't that they needed a drug, but that the doctor would give one anyway.

And that makes this a battle where both sides need to fight together.

Many hospitals have already taken measures to limit the spread of this disease. Mercy Medical Center says one of the reasons they started using private rooms is because of MRSA.

Mercy has also started screening patients before they're treated for some of the warning signs of MRSA.

The only way to tell if you are carrying MRSA is to get a lab test with your doctor.
View comments

The following comments do not necessarily represent the views of KCRG-TV9. Users have agreed to these terms and in doing so accept full responsibility for their comments. Moderation is limited.

Add a comment

Name:

Comment: 500 Characters Left

By submitting a comment to this web site, I affirm that I have read, understand, agree to and shall abide by the following rules and regulations as a term and condition of all comments which I may post. As terms and conditions of using this KCRG web site, I agree that I am fully responsible for the contents of all statements which I make. To the best of my knowledge, all such statements are true, fair, and accurate. I shall not post any statements which attack a person’s integrity or moral character, expose a person to public hatred, contempt or ridicule, deprive a person of the benefits of public confidence and social dealings, or injure a person in the maintenance of that person’s business. I shall not knowingly post content that violates the copyright, trademark, patent or other intellectual property right of a third person. I shall not post content that is false, liable, defamatory, obscene, abusive, that violates a person’s right to privacy, that otherwise violates any applicable local, state, national or international law or that is otherwise inappropriate. I acknowledge that if I post a comment which violates this policy that an offended person to whom comments are directed may have a right through judicial process to determine my identity and make a claim against me for damages. I agree that I shall indemnify KCRG, its employees, agents, representatives and affiliates from any and all expenses KCRG may incur as a result of comments I post which violate this policy, claims and/or damages, including but not limited to reasonable attorney’s fees and costs. KCRG is not responsible for the contents posted or anything arising out of the use of the contents or other interaction and has no obligation or duty to monitor or control any posting but does reserve the right to screen, refuse to post, remove, or edit user generated comment.

I have read and agree to the terms

Hide comments
Athlete of the Week
This content requires the latest Adobe Flash Player and a browser with JavaScript enabled. Click here for a free download of the latest Adobe Flash Player.
More On Demand

What's On KCRG

6:30
Bank of America 500 at
10:30
KCRG-TV9 News at 10
11:05
Two and a Half Men
11:35
CSI:New York