Fatalities avoidable with antibiotics

Abstract

The problem of antibiotic misuse and emergence of antibiotic-resistant bacteria has been around for several decades and strict dispensing of antibiotics by doctor’s prescription, and only after microbiological sensitivity studies, particularly in hospital settings, was introduced early especially in north European countries such as the UK. However, withholding antibiotic use pending identification of the infective agent involved and its antibiotic sensitivity profile may sometimes result in unwanted serious, even fatal, consequences. Here are some cases that came to my personal attention in the UK Coroner’s investigations and also, two cases in Malta.