Antibiotics have provided good treatment for many serious diseases such as pneumonia and meningitis that would have often been fatal 50 years ago. However, the current widespread use of antibiotics is leading to an increase in resistance of bacteria to the very antibiotics that have been lifesaving in the past, with sometimes fatal results. In fact, there is one strain of bacteria (a type of enterococcus) that is resistant to all known antibiotics. Individuals do not become resistant to antibiotics, only bacteria can. Indiscriminate use of antibiotics has lead to a major increase in drug resistant bacteria that are passed from individual to individual in the community. For most minor infections, this is not a problem; but for people who have a serious or life-threatening infection, treatment options that worked in the past may not work now.

Antibiotics also kill off good bacteria living in the body; sometimes leaving the person at risk for a more serious infection to start, such as pseudomembranous colitis, a severe form of antibiotic related diarrhea.

What can I do?

If your doctor diagnoses a viral illness, do not insist on an antibiotic. Antibiotics can not help a virus. This includes most cases of nasal congestion, coughs, sinus congestion, and bronchitis that last for 7 to 10 days. Ninety percent of fevers in children are caused by a virus. Over-the-counter prescriptions, such as Tylenol, decongestants or cough medications, can ease the symptoms of viral illnesses.

If your child has an ear infection, use the old standbys – Amoxicillin or Sulfa. Only if those antibiotics fail should you switch to a broader spectrum antibiotic. This is true even if a previous infection was resistant.

Take your medication according to the directions and for the full course. Many people stop taking antibiotics as soon as they feel better. DO NOT take antibiotics from your own medicine cabinet that are leftover from the past or were prescribed for a family member.

Ask your doctor to give you the most specific antibiotic possible for your infection.

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