Common Medications Are Sending Thousands To The ER

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Posted: 7:22 AM Aug 18, 2008
Last Updated: 7:22 AM Aug 18, 2008

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Bad reactions to commonly-prescribed antibiotics cause more than 140 thousand emergency room visits a year, that's according to researchers at the CDC.

Experts there used an electronic surveillance system to study the number of emergency room visits in 63 hospitals.

They found 6,600 visits were due to antibiotic reactions, which they say comes out to roughly 142,000 visits nationwide. Penicillin and Amoxicillin accounted for half the visits.

Experts say even though antibiotics are commonly used, they can still cause side effects and should only be administered when absolutely necessary.

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Comments are posted from viewers like you and do not always reflect the views of this station.

Posted by: Blog Refuter Location: NC on Aug 18, 2008 at 09:16 PM
I think that other financially-stable hospitals should invest in a medical center similar to MedDirect in Greenville, which is an extension of PCMH Emergency Department.

Posted by: ER nurse Location: nc on Aug 18, 2008 at 07:45 PM
John, what about the health department? What about urgent care centers? There are many other options than the ER, but if you continue to come to the EMERGENCY department for problems that aren't emergencies, don't complain about having to wait for many hours. Just because you don't have insurance doesn't mean you can't see a family doctor.

Posted by: john Location: nashville on Aug 18, 2008 at 07:20 PM
in response to realist.i work hard every day and still cannot aford to have health ins..so you need to lay off people that have no other choice but the er.

Posted by: realist Location: nc on Aug 18, 2008 at 08:58 AM
Tom....get a life....the government already knows all about you....they can even read your e-mails if they choose without your permission. Doctors need to quit prescribing antibiotics for viral infections....they only work for bacterial infections, not viral ones. And people need to quit going to the ER for things that aren't emergencies.

Posted by: Tom on Aug 18, 2008 at 07:40 AM
This goes to show you, the information in regards to your medical file is not secure. The experts use a surveillance system to study ER visits. It is no one's business but you and your doctor, what you are there for in the first place. The governments spys into your medical records and profiles you as a disease risk.

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