Misinformation on the social netweork in regards to infections and antibiotics

Misinformation about antibiotics can travel to large audiences via twitter: study

"Dissemination of health information theough social networks: Twitter and antibiotics,"
by Daniel Scanfeld, MS,MA
Vanessa Scanfeld, MPP
Elaine Larson, RN, PhD, FAAN, CIC
appeared in the AMerican Journal of Infection Control, vol 38 Issue 3April 2010 published by Elsevier



Twitter site was used to asnlyize 52,153 updates which mentioned antibiotics between March 13, 2009 and July 31, 2009.

Tweets were categorized into 11 categories:
1. general use. Most common category. Ranged from updates about antibiotics, days needed to be on antibiotics, and how long before they start to work
2. advise/information. 2nd common transfer of personal advice and information
3. side effects/negative reactions. 3rd common . General comments about how antibiotics made them feel to not being able to drink alcohol or sun sensitivity.
4. diagnosis
5. resistance
6. misunderstanding or misuse. This compromised 700 of the 52,000 tweets. These could spread to large audiences.
7. positive reactions
8. animals
9. wanting and needing
10. cost
11 other

This review of Twitter shows that misinformation can be disseminated to quickly and to thousands of people.
Tjis study showed that social media sites need to be monitored contantly and explore wayshow they can positively impact public health.