Why do physicians prescribe antibiotics?

Excerpt

The superficial reader would answer this question thus: “Because the patient has an infection.” The more informed reader knows that a relevant proportion of antibiotics is prescribed to patients that do not have a bacterial infection and, therefore, do not benefit from such antibiotic treatment. The reasons for the overprescription of antibiotics have been investigated in numerous studies. One major reason for overprescription lies in the fact that it is clinically often difficult to determine at the outset whether the patient has a bacterial infection or not. The physician is, therefore, faced with the challenge to perform a risk assessment during which he or she weighs the benefits and disadvantages of giving or withholding antibiotics. If antibiotics are not given, patients with serious bacterial infections may face the risk of rapid progression of the infection and, potentially, a lethal outcome. Under such circumstances, it is understandable that physicians may decide to err on the safe side and to prescribe antibiotics. Another situation which may result in overprescription is the pressure and the expectation of the patient or the parents of patients to receive antibiotics for a clinical illness, which, in the eye of the patient, is disturbing and calls for antibiotic treatment. …