Chances are good that at some point in your life you’ve been prescribed antibiotics. Being able to take this kind of medication when you have an infection can offer immediate relief and even be life saving.
However, knowing how to correctly use antibiotics is important so that you can do your part in preventing antibiotic resistance.
Antibiotic resistance happens when bacteria change and become able to defeat the antibiotics used to kill them. When this happens, it can become extremely difficult to treat bacterial infections. More than 35,000 deaths every year in the U.S. are caused by antimicrobial resistance.
One of the main drivers of resistance is the misuse and overuse of antibiotics. This includes:
• Taking antibiotics for the wrong disease
• Taking antibiotics for too short a time
• Taking antibiotics in inadequate strengths
• Taking antibiotics to treat viral infections
• Using antibiotics to treat bacterial infections that don’t require them
In order to prevent antibiotic resistance, there’s a few things you can do. First, take antibiotics only when you need them. Antibiotics do not work on viruses, such as the ones that cause the flu, COVID-19 or colds.
Next, take antibiotics exactly as described. Don’t share them, save them for later or stop taking them before your doctor has told you to just because you start to feel better.
If you have any old antibiotics or other medications laying around, be sure to dispose of them by taking them to a pharmacy or drug take-back site.
Lastly, try to stay healthy and keep others healthy too so that you don’t become sick or require antibiotics to begin with. Wash your hands frequently and avoid touching your eyes, nose and mouth. Stay home when you’re sick, and avoid contact with others who are sick.
Talk to your primary care provider if you have any questions about antibiotic resistance or your use of antibiotics.
Natalie Peters is the community health educator in the Dallas County Public Health Department.
