Treatment of E. coli: Antibiotics should not be used
In a reminder to physicians treating potential victims of E. coli poisoning, the CDC is warning doctors not to prescribe antibiotics for individuals who exhibit symptoms of E. coli infections. Mary Engel reported for the LA Times:
For at least five years, the federal Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the American Medical Assn. and other medical groups have advised against using antibiotics because of evidence that they can make patients sicker.But some doctors still prescribe antibiotics because they are unaware of the advice, misdiagnose the still-rare E. coli O157:H7 or don't find the relationship between antibiotics and greater medical risk convincing.
The studies exist, "but I don't know how well known they are," said Dr. David Acheson, chief medical officer in the Food and Drug Administration's food safety center and one of several experts to warn against antibiotic use in treating the E. coli strain.
A 2000 study found that children infected by E. coli O157:H7 and given antibiotics developed a life-threatening complication called hemolytic uremic syndrome at higher rates than children who did not take antibiotics. The syndrome is the leading cause of kidney failure in children.
Why may the current antibiotic treatments be ineffective?