You aren’t feeling well so you make an appointment with Health Services. You see your provider and are NOT prescribed an antibiotic. Don’t leave upset, you are helping the fight against the “super bugs”.
Since the invention of antibiotics (Penicillin in 1928), these medications have been life-saving, wonder drugs, curing diseases such as pneumonia, that used to be a major killer. But, these wonder drugs are losing their potency. The germs they once killed have become resistant from overuse. Antibiotic resistance happens when germs outsmart drugs.
Antibiotics work only on bacteria. They do not work on a virus. Treating all illnesses with antibiotic medications isn’t just wrong, it is dangerous. It won’t help your illness, it won’t help spreading it to others, and it may cause problems such as allergic reactions.
In the war between antibiotics and germs, the germs are winning. The rise of the superbug, MRSA
(Methicillin- resistant Staphylococcus aureus) is proof of that.
What can you do as a patient?
- Take antibiotics as directed by your provider. Don’t skip doses, share your medication, or “save” it until next time.
- Make sure to take all the medication prescribed, even if you start feeling better.
- Do not take antibiotics not prescribed for you. Antibiotic treat certain infections. Taking the wrong medication may delay the correct treatment or cause the germs to multiply.
- Do not ask for antibiotics when your provider thinks you do not need them.
- Prevent infections by good handwashing, getting plenty of rest and eating a healthy diet.
* Information obtained from Indiana University news “Why we don’t always prescribe antibiotics”, CDC “Mission Critical reinventing Antibiotic Resistance”, The Guardian/Sarah Boseley opinion 2/20/2015 “Thinking of asking your doctor for antibiotics, think again.”