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Nov. 12-18 is U.S. Antibiotic Awareness Week. The week is part of the Centers for Disease Control’s efforts to improve antibiotic prescribing and use among health care facilities, physicians and farms.
As stewards of CDC’s mission, Lurie Children’s encourages and promotes proper use of antibiotics. Dr. Sameer Patel, MD, infectious diseases, says, “Lurie Children’s provides resources to doctors, pharmacists, nurses and families to use antibiotics judiciously. Our goal is to promptly give the right antibiotic to our patients who need them while avoiding overuse.”
An antibiotic is a medication that is used to stop the growth of or kill bacteria and one of the most commonly prescribed medications in the U.S. The medication is prescribed when there is a suspected bacterial infection. However, antibiotic misuse occurs when the medication is prescribed when infections are unlikely or due to other causes besides bacteria such as viruses.
“Antibiotic misuse use can lead to an increase in antibiotic resistance,” Patel says. “Meaning when your body does have an infection, a typically prescribed antibiotic can’t effectively fight the infection because the bacteria has become resistant to it.”
As a parent or caregiver, how can you ensure that your child is being prescribed an antibiotic appropriately?
“Every child’s medical problems are unique. In some situations, antibiotics are clearly needed, but in others such as for treating a virus they are not necessary,” says Tonya Scardina, Pharm.D., pharmacy antimicrobial stewardship coordinator at Lurie Children’s. “Parents are encouraged to ask doctors why antibiotics are prescribed, if antibiotics are truly needed and potential side effects if prescribed.”
In addition, Patel and Scardina encourage parents and caregivers to buy meat and poultry raised without antibiotics when possible.
“Approximately 70 percent of antibiotic use in the United States is used on farms. These antibiotics are often given to livestock and poultry that aren’t sick in order to promote growth,” Patel says. “Antibiotic overuse in animals also contributes to resistance in humans because antibiotic resistant organisms can be spread via meat, soil and water.”
It’s important to note that when used appropriately antibiotics can save lives. Healthcare providers recommend the best way to prevent spreading germs and illness is to practice good hand hygiene. Patel and Scardina urge everyone to be good stewards of antibiotic use and to keep informed. More information can be found at www.cdc.gov/drugresistance.
• Children’s health is a continuing series. This week’s article is courtesy of Lurie Children’s Hospital. For additional information, visit luriechildrens.org.
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