AHMEDABAD: Swine flu director of Gujarat Dr Kamlesh Upadhyay, who is in-charge of swine flu department in Civil Hospital, believes that misuse of antibiotics instead of use of anti-virals is leading to H1N1 patients getting critical.

He said that pregnant women should especially take swine flu vaccination as the mortality in pregnant women is known to be high. “In majority of patients who are admitted with serious complications of H1N1, we’ve found that either the patient delayed getting treatment from doctors or doctors put them on antibiotics which would not help in a viral fever. There is a tradition of misusing antibiotics. I feel that if anti-viral medicine is used, it will be of greater benefit,” said Dr Upadhyay.

“If a woman is pregnant, not only she but her family members should also take vaccination as a protective measure,” he added.

Experts said most patients take antibiotics for cold without consulting a physician, making themselves susceptible to serious infections.