Final answer:
Nick should educate the patient on why antibiotics are ineffective against the flu, a viral infection, and about the importance of avoiding unnecessary antibiotic use to prevent resistance. He should explain that antibiotics are for bacterial infections and offer alternative symptom treatment or perform diagnostics if needed.
Step-by-step explanation:
Nick should professionally educate the patient on why antibiotics are not the appropriate treatment for viral infections like the flu. He could explain that antibiotics are used to treat bacterial infections, not viral ones, and using them unnecessarily can contribute to antibiotic resistance, which is a significant public health issue. Nick might also discuss the various types of respiratory illnesses, such as the common cold, influenza, bronchitis, and pneumonia, parsing out which are caused by viruses and which by bacteria.
For instance, pneumonia could be caused by either type of pathogen, but an antibiotic prescription is only helpful if the pneumonia is bacterial. Nick could underline the fact that a previous prescription of antibiotics for similar symptoms does not necessarily justify current use, especially if the cause of the symptoms is not bacterial. Instead, Nick can suggest symptomatic treatments and may consider running diagnostic tests if a bacterial secondary infection is suspected.
Lastly, he could encourage the patient to get a flu vaccine in the future to lessen the chances of contracting or spreading influenza. It is important for health professionals like Nick to address misconceptions and ensure patients understand the rationale behind treatment recommendations.