from
Berit Uhlmann
Brad Spellberg, chief physician at the Los Angeles County University Medical Center, likes to use a striking comparison when it comes to antibiotic prescriptions: Just like the Roman Emperor Constantine around the year 300 decreed that a week should consist of seven days , so arbitrarily the rule of thumb came into being that antibiotics against bacteria must always be taken for at least a week, even if the symptoms have long since subsided. Otherwise, it was said, there is a risk of setbacks and resistance of the pathogens. Spellberg is the author of a number of specialist articles on the use of antibiotics. In many of them he fears as well as in a recent workthat this prescription practice is still widespread.