(All About Antibiotics by Dr. Norbert Mathias, physician at Keystone Urgent Care, first appeared in the August 2014 edition of the Public Opinion Newspaper. Click here to read it at www.publicopiniononline.com.)
The CDC says at least 2 million people become infected with bacteria that are resistant to antibiotics and at least 23,000 people die each year as a direct result of these infections. Dr. Norbert Mathias explains why it’s important to only use antibiotics when needed and as prescribed.
What are antibiotics for?
Antibiotics are incredible drugs that have been around for many decades and have saved millions of lives. The use of these drugs must be tempered by physician judgment and experience. Antibiotics should never be shared with others and must be taken exactly as prescribed by your health care provider.
Antibiotics can help
Common reasons for antibiotic use include: wound infections with surrounding redness and pain, sexually transmitted diseases, meningitis, opened compound fractures, Lyme disease and other tick borne illnesses, tuberculosis, diverticulitis, appendicitis, pneumonia, urinary tract infections, and some cases of sinusitis.
When NOT to use antibiotics
There are many situations where antibiotic use is not indicated or helpful and can actually cause harm. When a health problem is caused by a virus, such as in the case of conjunctivitis (pink eye) or an upper respiratory infection or cold, antibiotics will not help. Antibiotics kill bacteria and not viruses. Up to 98% of cases of sinusitis are viral and don’t require antibiotics.
Overuse issues
When an antibiotic is given, it kills the susceptible bacteria but not viruses. With the susceptible bacteria gone, other bacteria that are resistant can flourish and multiply causing additional infections. Because of the overuse and inappropriate prescribing of antibiotics, there are many new resistant and dangerous strains that are not killed by even some very strong antibiotics.
What should I do?
When it comes to antibiotics, only use when absolutely needed and indicated by a health care provider. Health care providers are trained to know the appropriate medication needed, the amount of the mediation necessary, and length of time to take the medication required for each specific case. Be sure to finish all prescribed medication and don’t share it with others.
