Don’t treat a bacteriuria with antibiotics in elderly patients without urinary symptoms.
An asymptomatic bacteriuria should be managed conservatively. In elderly people, a bacteriuria is not necessarily harmful, while antibiotics are not obviously beneficial: often, they bring about undesirable effects, such as specific adverse reactions and undue...
Don’t prescribe acid suppressant therapy in order to prevent stress ulcers in hospitalized patients, unless there is a high risk of bleeding.
According to the international guidelines, the pharmacological prophylaxis of the peptic stress ulcers with antagonists of the H2 receptors or proton pump inhibitors (PPI), is not indicated outside the intensive care setting. Even the term “gastric protection” should...
Don’t use benzodiazepines or other sedative-hypnotics in older adults as first choice for insomnia.
Older adults have increased sensitivity to benzodiazepines and other hypnotics and decreased drug metabolism. In general, all benzodiazepines increase risk of cognitive impairment, delirium, falls, fractures and motor vehicle accidents, leading to hospitalization and...
Don’t use antipsychotics as the first choice to treat behavioral symptoms of dementia, avoiding prescription before careful evaluation and removal of precipitating factors.
People with dementia often exhibit behavioral symptoms such as agitation, aggression, anxiety, irritability, depression, apathy and psychosis. In this context, antipsychotic medicines are often prescribed, but they often provide limited and inconsistent benefits, with...The campaign DOING MORE DOES NOT MEAN DOING BETTER – CHOOSING WISELY ITALY is promoted by Italy’s Slow Medicine
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