RT Journal
A1 Schiff GD, Galanter BL, Lambert BL
T1 COnservative prescribing and the importance of psychotherapy—reply
JF Archives of Internal Medicine
JO Archives of Internal Medicine
YR 2012
FD February 13
VO 172
IS 3
SP 294
OP 295
DO 10.1001/archinternmed.2011.1564
UL http://dx.doi.org/10.1001/archinternmed.2011.1564
AB 
We agree with Wlodaver and May that prescribing antimicrobials vividly illustrates the need for conservative prescribing practices. Whether we will have effective antimicrobials in the future depends on avoiding their overuse today. Nearly all of our 24 principles apply to antibiotic prescribing, particularly those recommending treating underlying causes rather than reflexively responding to symptoms, considering drug effects as the cause of symptoms (such as fever), discontinuing drugs when no longer needed or working, recognizing that that not all patients desire or expect drug (antibiotic) prescriptions (rather than reassurance and close follow-up), and considering longer-term risks (including antibiotic resistance).