What We're Reading: Demand for Antibiotics; FDA Inspects Juul; Fast Food Consumption

Patient Satisfaction Tied to Antibiotic Prescribing

A study has found that patients who receive an antibiotic prescription report being happiest with their doctor’s visit, whether or not they needed the antibiotic. NPR reported that concern about patient satisfaction scores may influence doctors to prescribe antibiotics when they are not necessary. The study analyzed 8347 appointments for respiratory tract infections through a telemedicine provider and found that 66% received antibiotics for something that rarely calls for antibiotics. Antibiotics are routinely overprescribed for respiratory tract infections, which can lead to antibiotic resistance.

FDA Surprises e-Cigarette Maker Juul With Inspection

Use of e-cigarettes has surged among youth with the number of high school students using devices like Juul, and the FDA has collected more than 1000 pages of documents from Juul’s headquarters as part of a surprise inspection. According to The Wall Street Journal, FDA inspectors are focusing on sales and marketing practices stemming from concerns that the Juul’s flavored liquids appeal to youths. Juul, and similar devices, contain high levels of nicotine. The company’s sales have sharply increased from 2.2 million devices in 2016 to 16.2 million in 2017. FDA Commissioner Scott Gottlieb, MD, is considering banning flavored products as teen vaping increases.

Every Day, 1 in 3 Americans Eat Fast Food

On any given day, an average of 36.6% of American adults are eating fast food. A report from the CDC’s National Center for Health Statistics compared percentages for demographic characteristics and found that the proportion of adults eating fast food increased with income, according to Los Angeles Times. While 31.7% of lower-income adults eat fast food, 42% of high-income families eat fast food on a typical day. In addition, Americans are eating fast food all day: 22.7% gets breakfast from a fast food outlet, 43.7% get lunch, 42.0% get dinner, and 22.8% get a snack.