FDA Proposes Labels for Antibiotics

The Food and Drug Administration proposed warning labels on antibiotics to remind doctors that over-prescription and inappropriate use encourage the development of resistant bacteria. “Antibiotic resistance is a serious and growing public health concern in the United States and the world,” FDA Commissioner Jane Henney said in a statement. The proposed label would say antibacterial drugs should only be used in situations in which a bacterial infection is either proved or strongly suspected. The label would specifically remind doctors that antibiotics do not treat viral infections. Craig Hendrix, associate professor at Johns Hopkins University in Baltimore, said there was a lot of pressure on doctors in United States to prescribe a drug to patients.