Avoid antibiotic resistance
Bacteria and other microbes can resist antibiotics and when a bacteria survives an antibiotic, the bacteria can multiply and cause more harm. Antibiotic resistance occurs when bacteria changes in a way that reduces or eliminates the effectiveness of drugs designed to cure or prevent infections.
The emergence of resistant bacterial strains due to misuse and overuse of antibiotics is a cause for global public health concern. Although antibiotics are very useful drugs, they are designed for bacterial infection and are not useful for viral infections such as the flu, coughs or colds.
Some useful tips to remember are:
- Do not take an antibiotic for a viral infection such as a cold or the flu
- Take an antibiotic exactly as your physician or other health care provider instructs. Do not skip doses and complete the prescribed course of treatment even if you are feeling better. If treatment stops too soon, some bacteria may survive and re-infect you.
- Talk with your health care professional about antibiotic resistance and whether an antibiotic is likely to be beneficial for your illness and what else you can do to feel better sooner.
- If you are taking an antibiotic, do not save some of your antibiotic for the next time you get sick.
- If your health care professional determines you do not have a bacterial infection, ask about ways to help relieve your symptoms.
- Do not take antibiotics prescribed for someone else as the antibiotic may not be appropriate for your illness and taking the wrong medicine may delay correct treatment and allow bacteria to multiply.
Always discuss your treatment alternatives with your physician as all conditions do not require treatment with antibiotics.
