Survey Finds 88% Still Back Finishing Antibiotics as Guidelines Shift to 3-5 Day Courses
Updated
Updated · 매일경제 · Aug 16
Survey Finds 88% Still Back Finishing Antibiotics as Guidelines Shift to 3-5 Day Courses
3 articles · Updated · 매일경제 · Aug 16
Summary
A 1,475-adult U.S. survey found 88% still believe antibiotics should always be finished even after symptoms improve, despite updated guidance favoring the shortest effective course.
For common bacterial illnesses such as pneumonia, newer guidelines say 3-5 days can work as well as week-long treatment while lowering side effects and limiting unnecessary drug exposure.
Thorpe's team said accumulated clinical evidence has reversed older advice driven by fears that stopping early would breed resistance; prolonged use can also disrupt gut microbes and raise diarrhea and gastrointestinal risks.
Doctors and pharmacists still warn patients not to stop on their own: some infections, including tuberculosis and chronic bacterial disease, require longer treatment, and any change in duration should be made with professional advice.
If the golden rule of always finishing antibiotics is outdated, could following traditional medical advice actually be making you sicker?
If rapid testing cannot stop overprescribing, what hidden psychological traps are keeping both doctors and patients hooked on dangerously long treatments?