Antibiotics dose fears

ANTIBIOTICS are prescribed for too long, experts claim.

The University of Oxford and Brighton and Sussex Medical School examined treatment for 13 infections over two years and found patients took antibiotics for a total of 1.3million days more than recommended by Public Health England.

Drugs for upper respiratory tract and ear infections, coughs and bronchitis accounted for most of the total. At least 80 per cent of treatment exceeded guidelines of five days for most respiratory and ear infections, while more than half prescriptions for cystitis in women exceeded the recommended three days.

The researchers said antibiotic use could be cut by following the guidelines.