Noteboom The Law Firm

The VA Must Keep Better Track Of Antibiotic Use

Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) Medical facilities across the nation are using more powerful antibiotics than ever before. According to a recent VA study, the increase in use between 2005 and 2009 can only be described as "sharp." The steepest rise in use of all antibiotics was in those considered "broad-spectrum."

The issue, however, is researchers cannot discover just why there is such an increase in the use of such antibiotics. Their suggestion was to implement stronger regulations for use and tracking of such drugs.

The only reason the study was possible was because of the electronic system the VA implemented across the nation for medication administration. The study covered 110 VA "acute-care sites" throughout the nation. In early 2005, there were 649 days of antibiotic therapy administered per every 1,000 patient days. Researchers found in 2010 that the number of therapy days jumped to 775 within the same 1,000 patient days.

It is a substantial increase in the amount of therapy administered over a very short time period. It is not just patients being affected, however. Clinicians are likely using more antibiotics to treat infections as aggressively as possible.

The trends researchers discovered in the nationwide VA hospitals mirrored those found in smaller, more regional studies of local VA medical facilities. Researchers did discover, however, a wide dissimilarity between the nationwide and local VA medical centers in their choices of antibiotics.

Researchers concluded the more broad-spectrum antibiotic used, the more likely it would be to develop drug-resistant strains. This is why there must be more regulation in antibiotic use across the country.

If you are a disabled veteran who has been denied disability compensation or have not yet applied for benefits from the VA, a South Florida disability attorney from LaVan & Neidenberg is ready to help. To learn if you are entitled to certain programs and benefits contact our veterans disability rights firm today - 1-888-234-5758.