Michael Aanes' reading response to chapter 9 of The Antibiotic Paradox

I love the quip about the cartoon from the New Yorker on page 252 "Don't forget to take a handful of complimentary antibiotics on your way out." As I started to read this chapter and as it talked about the amount of self administration of stored antibiotics and the amount of unused antibiotics in houses throughout the world, I was astonished at the lack of knowledge regarding the dangers of self administration but was not surprised. Like Felicia mentioned, the story on 244 to 245 is quit surprising. As a counselor, I have seen this type of behavior for other drugs but it never crossed my mind that people would engage in this for antibiotics. As the chapter discussed people's desire for medicine that will cure all ailments, I found the joke discussed on pages 241 to 242 in the French journal to be quite humorous. On the flip side, it is disturbing to know that many people all over the world believe in this myth that one drug will fix all. You could even see a touch of that in the gentleman in the plane that took a penicillin for a scratchy throat. I did like how the book addressed who we should "blame" for the overuse of antibiotics on pages 251 and 252. It was brought up earlier in chapter 5 how physicians are often apt to give into a patients demands for fear of loosing a patient so it really does make you wonder. However, I don't know that the doctors should be blamed for giving the antibiotics out, but I think more doctors should take responsibility in educating their patients about the dangers of misuse and strong public health measures to inform the general public of the differences between viral and bacterial infections and the dangers of self administration of left over antibiotics and additional antibiotic misuses. Some of these measures are already in place, but there is still a lot to be done. Finally, the section discussing individual efforts against antibiotic resistance is another important public health factor. In doing the things mentioned above and take a proactive approach in teaching our children healthy habits regarding medications and healthy daily living, we can make an effort in fighting resistances and reducing them.