What you describe as overuse is more accurately described as inappropriately prescribed such as when a pediatrition gives in and just gives antibiotics for sinus infections to placate parents.
If your doctor is allowing you to refill an antibiotic prescription after 1 course does not help- run away fast, he/she is a whackjob. Only in special cases ie TB should there be refills on antibiotics. So the “lots of people” you know that are being given antibiotics with multiple refills are basically seeing nutjobs for doctors.
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+1. Agreed. Generally, if the first round of antibiotics didn’t work, the organism is resistant and you need a different antibiotic for round 2.
There are maybe a few other exceptions. Example: a patient who repeatedly gets a skin infection (cellulitis) related to lymphedema may have a standing order for antibiotics with a refill. At some point, some patients with repeated cellulitis or repeated urinary tract infections may be actually put on prophylactic (preventive) antibiotics for long term use, as well.
