Lincoln health expert warns of overusing antibiotics in health care
LINCOLN, Neb. (KLKN) – Health experts say the overuse of antibiotics has led to superbugs, affecting bacterial infection treatments nationwide.
Just last week, they urged Congress to pass the Pioneering Antimicrobial Subscriptions to End Upsurging Resistance Act, or PASTEUR Act, which they said would address the problem.
The legislation, introduced by Sens. Michael Bennet of Colorado and Todd Young of Indiana, encourages “innovative” drug development to cut down on the use of antibiotics.
Dr. Jim Nora, medical director of infection prevention at Bryan Health, said superbugs mean that people spend longer in the hospital, which results in more complications for them.
“Now instead of getting a single antibiotic to treat their infection, they might be getting two or three,” he said. “They might be getting antibiotics that have significantly more toxicity.”
Nora said the nation’s antibiotic use has caused the emergence of the “superbugs.”
“I would really encourage patients and encourage all health care providers to really think twice about whether we absolutely need to use an antibiotic,” he said.
