Frequently Asked Questions About Antibiotic Resistance
Antibiotic Resistance? What is it?
Over time, some bacteria have figured out how to defend themselves against the drugs we take to kill them (antibiotics). Taking antibiotics when they are not needed is one way some bacteria become resistant to the antibiotic.
These resistant bacteria are stronger and harder to kill. They can stay in your body and can cause severe illnesses that cannot be cured with antibiotic medicines. A cure for resistant bacteria may require stronger treatment - and possibly a stay in the hospital.
What is the difference between bacteria and viruses?
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Bacteria are single-celled organisms usually found all over the inside and outside of our bodies, except in the blood and spinal fluid. Many bacteria are not harmful. In fact, some are actually beneficial. However, disease-causing bacteria trigger illnesses, such as strep throat and some ear infections, pneumonia, and sinus infections. Antibiotics can work.
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Viruses are even smaller than bacteria. A virus cannot survive outside the body's cells. It causes illnesses by invading healthy cells and reproducing. Viruses cause the common cold, most coughs and the flu. Antibiotics don't work. Using antibiotics for a virus:
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Will NOT cure the infection
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Will NOT help you or yourchild feel better
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Will NOT keep others from catching the illness
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How can you prevent antibiotic-resistant infections?
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Talk with your health care provider about antibiotic resistance.
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Ask whether an antibiotic is likely to be beneficial for your illness.
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Ask what else you can do to feel better sooner.
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Do not take an antibiotic for a viral infection like a cold or the flu.
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Do not save some of your antibiotic for the next time you get sick.
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Take an antibiotic exactly as the doctor tells you.
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Do not take an antibiotic that is prescribed for someone else.
Are antibiotics needed when mucus changes to yellow or green?
Yellow or green mucus does not indicate a bacterial infection. It is normal for the mucus to get thick and change color during a viral cold.
Should I request antibiotics from the doctor?
Talk to your doctor about the best treatment. You should not expect to get a prescription for antibiotics. If you have a viral infection, antibiotics will not cure it, help you feel better, or prevent someone else from getting your virus.
The information on this page is from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention website.
