According to University of Pennsylvania School of Medicine researchers, doctors frequently misuse antibiotics when treating patients hospitalized with respiratory tract infections. In a study published in Infection Control and Hospital Epidemiology, doctors at two Pennsylvania hospitals were found to be using antibiotics to treat patients with viral infections, which are known to not respond to the drugs. Based on hospital records of 196 patients diagnosed with viral infections over a two-year period, the researchers found that 125 or about 63% were prescribed antibiotics. The authors raised concerns about the inappropriate use of antibiotics because it has been linked to the development of resistant bacterial strains. In addition, the researchers found that not only did the patients not benefit from the treatment, but some may have suffered adverse effects, specifically development of diarrhea linked to antibiotic use. The authors noted that the antibiotic group had longer average hospital stays and higher …