Smokers Are More Likely to Be Prescribed Antibiotics, New Study Finds

Four out of five Americans are prescribed antibiotics each year, on average, and antibiotic prescriptions should only be given to patients who have severe bacterial infections. However, a new study has found that one group of people is prescribed more antibiotics than anyone else — smokers.

According to a new study published in the American Journal of Preventive Medicine, smokers are 20% to 30% more likely than non-smokers to receive antibiotic prescriptions, regardless of the severity of their infections.

The researchers used data from over 8,300 doctor’s office visits for infections between 2006 and 2010. When they analyzed respiratory infection visits, they found that smokers are 31% more likely to receive antibiotics.

The study wasn’t able to find the exact reason why doctors are more likely to prescribe antibiotics to smokers, but lead author Dr. Michael Steinberg thinks the reason is that if doctors don’t, bacteria will have more chances to adapt to bacterial infection solutions.

“I think there is a clinical tradition of physicians being more liberal prescribing antibiotics for smokers than non-smokers,” Steinberg told Reuters Health. “You would think that the number of bacterial infections where antibiotics are clinically indicated should be evenly distributed among smokers and non-smokers.”

In other words, Steinberg predicts that the study’s findings are the results of common thinking. It may be because of an inaccurate judgment among doctors that those who smoke are at much more danger than those who don’t. Consequently, they jump to critical steps, even if they don’t have to.

This isn’t good news. As Steinberg explained to Reuters, “If smokers are being prescribed antibiotics 20 to 30 percent more than other individuals, if not indicated, it’s going to contribute to that antibiotic resistance in society and bacteria are going to become more and more resistant.”
The results of the study suggest that smoking consequently can lead to antibiotic resistant bacteria.

“Tobacco use does have implications beyond the individual person,” he said. “Smoking in our society can present broader issues like antibiotics resistance.”