Dear Editor:

In response to Lisa McSwain’s urgent care visit (Letters, January 16 edition), more than the bill total is disturbing. Most importantly, why was an antibiotic given “just in case?” Lisa’s daughter had strep, despite a negative rapid strep test? I spoke with Lisa, who said her daughter was uncomfortable, but did not have a high fever nor urgent need for antibiotics. This prescription was not given at the urging of the family. Interestingly, no throat culture was billed for, though this should be done if the rapid screen is negative.

Consumer Reports suggests a “fair price” for a cbc of $23, not $78. An office visit with these labs would have cost about $220, rather than $675.

For LCH’s urgent care to serve the community, care must be more affordable to local citizens ... but they have already shown their lack of concern for our needs in many ways.

While at least this doctor used penicillin rather than a broad-spectrum antibiotic, this is a typical example of misuse of antibiotics. There is a growing problem of infections due to antibiotic-resistant bacteria. Antibiotics should only be given for bacterial infections, not for “colds,” flu, or viral sore throats.

Judy Stone, MD
Cumberland, Md., and Boothbay Harbor