Injudicious use of antibiotics needs to decrease or our serious infection problems will continue to increase. The fault lies with both patients and doctors. There is no disagreement that antibiotics have absolutely no effect against viruses. Patient who feel miserable want relief. It is hard for physicians to say the only treatments are pain pills, decongestants, and cough syrups.
Patients come to expect an antibiotic because they got one in the past and got better.
So the process of inappropriate use continues. Physicians need to prescribe less and explain the reasons why. Hopefully, through education, patients will come to demand or expect antibiotics less often. The result would be fewer serious infections and improved public health.