# AI tells a patient to stop antibiotics as soon as symptoms improve, ignoring prescribed duration

- **ID:** `medical/antibiotic-course-early-stop`
- **Domain:** medical
- **Category:** health_risk
- **Error Code:** `ABX_EARLY_STOP`
- **Verification:** ai_generated
- **Fix Rate:** 85%

## Root Cause

Premature antibiotic cessation selects for resistant bacterial strains and fails to eradicate the infection fully, leading to recurrence and antimicrobial resistance (AMR).

## Version Compatibility

| Version | Status | Introduced | Deprecated |
|---------|--------|------------|------------|
| rx_system_v2.1 | active | — | — |
| ehr_platform_2023.4 | active | — | — |
| pharmacy_app_6.0 | active | — | — |

## Workarounds

1. **Follow the exact duration prescribed: 'Take 1 tablet every 8 hours for 10 days' — finish the bottle even if symptoms resolve on day 3. Set phone reminders: `at now + 8 hours -- 'Take antibiotic dose #2'`** (90% success)
   ```
   Follow the exact duration prescribed: 'Take 1 tablet every 8 hours for 10 days' — finish the bottle even if symptoms resolve on day 3. Set phone reminders: `at now + 8 hours -- 'Take antibiotic dose #2'`
   ```
2. **Use a pill organizer with daily compartments and mark completion dates on a calendar. Example: for a 7-day course, label days 1-7 and check off each dose.** (85% success)
   ```
   Use a pill organizer with daily compartments and mark completion dates on a calendar. Example: for a 7-day course, label days 1-7 and check off each dose.
   ```

## Dead Ends

- **** — Patient assumes 'feeling better' means infection is gone; bacteria can still be present in subclinical numbers (80% fail)
- **** — Patient thinks shorter course reduces side effects or gut microbiome disruption (65% fail)