U-of-I studes antibiotic use

The first six months of a University of Iowa study shows the state of Iowa does better than the rest of the country in some cases when it comes to using antibiotics to fight infection. The University is collecting data on how and where the infections are building resistance to the drugs. U-of-I Pathology Professor Gary Doern says the bacteria that cause problems in hospitals are more effectively controlled in Iowa than other states. He says Iowa fares about as well as other states when it comes to drug resistance in the bacteria that cause ear infections, bronchitis, pneumonia and meningitis. Doern says this could be due to the method of treatment used in Iowa. Doern says the study of antibiotic resistance in Iowa is the only one in the United States. He says they hope the information can be used worldwide. He says the study will take another three to five years.