By Rita Mu

Prescribing antibiotics for the common cold can cause unwanted side effects. Image: Adrienne

Doctors are still prescribing antibiotics for the common cold, despite wide acceptance and research showing that the drugs have no effect on viral infections.

An estimated 2.7 million prescriptions for antibiotics were issued for the common cold in 2008-09, an increase of 600,000 prescriptions from 2006-07, according to the Bettering Evaluation And Care of Health (BEACH) program.

BEACH is a continuous national study on the clinical activities in general practice.

The figure for 2008-09 match the numbers from a decade ago when antibiotic prescriptions a hit a record high of 2.7 million for the first time.

According to National Prescribing Service ‘s (NPS) acting chief executive, Karen Kaye, antibiotics should be used to treat only bacterial infections and were ‘‘ineffective’’ against viral infections such as the cold.

‘‘Common colds and the increasing number of strains of influenza are viral infections, so antibiotics won’t help these conditions get better any quicker,’’ she said.

‘‘Antibiotics are not usually specified to treat sore throats or acute coughs, even if bacteria are the cause.”

The Royal Australian College of General Practitioners president, Dr Chris Mitchell said antibiotics had ‘‘no benefit’’ for the common cold and that there was ‘‘no justification’’ for GPs to continue prescribing antibiotics to patients.

‘‘Doctors need to be cautious about the use of antibiotics,’’ he said.

“Prescribing antibiotics for the wrong reasons exposes people to unnecessary risks and side effects such as stomach pains and diarrhoea.”

Pressure from patients and concerns that patients could be at a higher risk of developing bacterial infections such as pneumonia or meningitis were some reasons GPs prescribed antibiotics, said Dr Mitchell.

‘‘Sometimes GPs may prescribe antibiotics but advise patients not to use them unless symptoms are not settling.’’

Dr Mitchell said the public needed more education about antibiotics and that the common cold could be treated without drugs.

‘‘Rest, washing your hands frequently and social distancing can be helpful [to treat the cold].’’

Kaye said the unnecessary use of antibiotics was leading to a ‘‘global problem of antibiotic resistance.’’

The NPS estimates more than three million antibiotic prescriptions are wasted on viral infections, and 7000 deaths are caused by antibiotic-resistant bacteria each year in Australia.