What are antibiotics?
Antibiotics are medicines that help stop infections caused by bacteria. They do this by killing the bacteria or stopping them from reproducing.
What conditions do antibiotics treat?
Antibiotics only treat certain infections caused by bacteria, such as:
- Strep throat
- Urinary tract infection (UTI)
- Whooping cough
- Dental infections
- Some ear and sinus infections
Antibiotics do not work against infections caused by viruses. Antibiotics will not work on viral illnesses such as:
- Colds and runny noses, even if the mucus is thick, yellow or green
- Most sore throats (except strep throat)
- Flu
- Most cases of chest colds (bronchitis)
What is antibiotic resistance?
Antibiotic resistance happens when antibiotics are no longer effective against certain bacteria. This means the germs are not killed and continue to grow.
Why is antimicrobial resistance a concern?
- Resistant infections can be difficult, and sometimes impossible, to treat.
- Resistant infections often require lengthy hospital stays, follow-up visits, and costly and toxic alternative treatments
- CDC reports that more than 2.8 million antibiotic-resistant infections occur in the United States each year and results in more than 35,000 deaths.
- Resistant germs can make other germs resistant
What causes antibiotic resistance?
Any time antibiotics are used they can contribute to the development of drug resistance. Misuse of antibiotics are the main cause of resistance. Misuse of antibiotics happens when a person takes:
- The wrong antibiotic
- The wrong dose of an antibiotic
- An antibiotic for the wrong length of time
- An antibiotic when they don’t need to (like a viral infection)
How can you prevent antibiotic resistance?
- Take steps to prevent getting sick in the first place
- Wash hands
- Stay up to date on vaccines
- Cover coughs and sneezes
- Avoid contact with people who are sick
- Only take antibiotics when instructed by a healthcare provider
- Take your antibiotics as prescribed
- Don’t skip doses and always finish them – even if you feel better
- Don’t take antibiotics when you don’t need them
- Trust your healthcare provider when they say you don’t need antibiotics for an illness
- Never take antibiotics for a viral infection