http://www.abc.net.au/news/australia/qld/cairns/regcrn-25mar2002-5.htm

Posted: Mon, 25 Mar 2002 22:12 AEST

Medical conference warned of antibiotic resistance

A world renowned respiratory specialist says pneumonia will soon be impossible to treat if people continue to misuse antibiotics.

Medical and scientific professionals have gathered in Cairns in far north Queensland for a conference to address a world asthma epidemic.

New York specialist Dr Michael Niederman told the meeting antibiotic resistance could lead to many patients failing to respond to medication and the emergence of new organisms.

He says doctors must only prescribe antibiotics when appropriate.

"Doctors are using antibiotics in situations where they're not needed, they're sometimes using the wrong antibiotic for the specific type of patient and sometimes the wrong dosage," he said.
 

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