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Safe Antibiotic Use Do you use antibiotics wisely?Antibiotics are important medications that really help when we need them. But taking antibiotics when they're not needed can be harmful. Most infections are caused by two main kinds of germs: bacteria and viruses. Antibiotics cure infections caused by bacteria like strep throat, but have no effect against infections caused by viruses, like colds and the flu. Viruses cause colds and the flu. Taking antibiotics for these illnesses is unnecessary and expensive. It also helps cause a problem called antibiotic resistance. The more antibiotics we take unnecessarily, the more we "teach" bacteria how to outwit them. So why should I be concerned? Because germs are easily passed from one person to another, antibiotic resistance affects everyone. Resistant bacteria - sometimes called "superbugs" - are not killed by usual doses of antibiotics. They cause infections that are difficult and costly to treat. Sometimes, the infections they cause are not curable. So what should I do?
This page was last updated on Septiembre 17, 2008. Return to top |
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