Health Tip: Understanding Antibiotic Resistance

What you can do to help prevent it

Related Encyclopedia • Abscess • Actinomycosis • Acute Myeloid Leukemia (Adult) • AIDS and HIV Infection More... Related Healthscout Videos Vaccination Education Fighting Flu (LF) Fighting HIV and AIDS: New Research Blood Cleaner More... Related Drug Information • Abilify • Augmentin • Bactroban Cream • Bactroban Ointment More... Related News Articles • Respiratory Issues Linger for Smallest Babies • Swine Flu Summit Focuses on Preparedness • Changes Reduced Infections From Medical Abortion • New Drug Fights Anthrax Toxin More...

(HealthDay News) -- Antibiotic resistance occurs when bacteria mutate and make certain medications ineffective in preventing bacterial infections.

Text Continues Below

---

The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services offers these suggestions for preventing antibiotic-resistant infections:

• Talk to your doctor about whether you actually need an antibiotic to treat a particular illness.
• Don't take antibiotics when they are not helpful. For example, antibiotics will not treat infections caused by viruses, including the common cold and the flu.
• Always take antibiotics as prescribed by your doctor. Don't skip any dose, and don't stop taking them early, even if you feel better.
• Never "save" antibiotics to take later. Never re-use them for a different illness.
• Never take an antibiotic that was prescribed to another person.

-- Diana Kohnle