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It’s Antibiotic Awareness Week.
Two Rivers Public Health Department Hospital Preparedness Program Coordinator Dustin Handley joined NTV News at Noon to talk about facts to be aware of.
7 Facts to Be Antibiotics Aware:
- Antibiotics save lives. When a patient needs antibiotics, the benefits usually outweigh the risks of side effects or antibiotic resistance.
- Antibiotics aren’t always the answer. Everyone can help improve antibiotic prescribing and use.
- Antibiotics do not work on viruses, such as those that cause colds, flu, bronchitis, or runny noses, even if the mucus is thick, yellow, or green.
- Antibiotics are only needed for treating infections caused by bacteria, but even some bacterial infections get better without antibiotics, including many sinus infections, and some ear infections.
- Antibiotics will not make you feel better if you have a virus. Respiratory viruses usually go away in a week or two without treatment. Ask your healthcare professional about the best way to feel better while your body fights off the virus.
- If you need antibiotics, take them exactly as prescribed. Talk with your doctor if you have any questions about your antibiotics, or if you develop any side effects, especially diarrhea, since that could be a Clostridium difficile infection (also called C. Difficile or C. diff), which needs to be treated.
- Antibiotics are critical tools for treating a number of common infections, such as pneumonia, and for life-threatening conditions including sepsis.
- Each year in the United States, at least 2 million people get infected with antibiotic-resistant bacteria. At least 23,000 people die as a result.
- The CDC is working to improve education on this subject. This campaign is known as Be Antibiotics Aware: Smart Use, Best Care, this is a year-round effort to improve antibiotic prescribing and use combat antibiotic resistance.
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