Superbugs (By Jodi M)

What Not To Do
- Don't ask your doctor for antibiotics if you are ill with some sort of viral infection. They won't work and they just contribute to the superbug problem. You may take an over-the-counter cold treatment to combat your symptoms but antibiotics are unnecessary.
- Don't "save" a half-used bottle of antibiotics to use on another sickness later on. If you get sick and just take a dose or two of the medicine your illness will not improve, and it could in fact come back even worse at a later time and be even more resistant to medication.
What To Do
- Do make sure to use up your entire antibiotic prescription even if you start to feel better halfway through. Your symptoms may improve but the bacteria are not completely killed until the prescription is finished. Leaving a prescription unfinished can cause those remaining bacteria to be resistant to that antibiotic so a recurring illness will be harder to treat.
- Do take preventative measures to avoid catching a cold or getting bacterial AND viral infections as that will reduce the amount of antibiotics being prescribed and help reduce the chance of more bacteria becoming antibiotic-resistant

Q: What is a "superbug"?
A: When a bacterial infection has developed a resistance to common antibiotic treatments it is sometimes called a "superbug". These infections often last longer, and are much more severe than infections that are not antibiotic-resistant. In high risk individuals such as young children and the elderly they can also be fatal.

Q: How are bacteria becoming antibiotic-resistant?
A: Many illnesses such as colds, the flu, coughs, bronchitis, runny nose, etc. are caused by viruses and NOT bacteria. Antiobiotics are only helpful in illnesses caused by bacteria. The more times doctors prescribe an antibiotic for a viral illness it increases the chance of people getting an illness that is antibiotic-resistant.

Q: What can I do to prevent problems?
A: Make sure that you always complete a full dose of antibiotics. Even if you start to feel better, you must complete the full dosage or your illness could come back and be even stronger and more resistant to the medication. You should also never take any leftover antibiotics to treat a new illness. If it is a viral infection it won't do any good. If it is a bacterial infection taking one or two doses will not fight off the bacteria and could make it more resistant in future illnesses.

Q: What is being done to spread the word?
A: The U.S. Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) is working to help fight the problem of antibiotic-resistant bacteria through an educational program called Get Smart: Know When Antibiotics Work. According to the CDC's website, the program aims to reduce the rate of antibiotic resistance by:
1. Promoting adherence to appropriate prescribing guidelines among providers
2. Decreasing demand for antibiotics for viral upper respiratory infections among healthy adults and parents of young children
3. Increasing adherence to prescribed antibiotics for upper respiratory infections.
The CDC also reminds people that the spread of viral infections can be reduced through frequent hand washing and by avoiding close contact with others.

Myth: YOU become resistant to antibiotics if they are taken too frequently or inappropriately.
Truth: While antibiotic resistance is very prevalent, this isn't exactly how it happens. Your body doesn't build up immunity to antibiotics; rather, bacteria that are responsible for infections become resistant. Antibiotics are supposed to kill or inhibit the growth of bacteria. Bacteria, however, have been around for thousands of years and have survived in the most hostile of environments. Because of this, they are able to adapt and have different mechanisms for survival, one of which is a resistance to antibiotics.

Myth: Antibiotics kill 100% of the bacteria in my body.
Truth: A bacterial infection harbors billions of bacteria. Taking an antibiotic will kill those bacteria which are susceptible to its effect, and leave behind those bacteria which are resistant to the antibiotic. The remaining bacteria can survive and continue to grow. If these remaining bacteria spread from person to person, they may become the norm, and then all future infections stemming from these bacteria will be resistant to antibiotics.

Myth: I don't have to finish my antibiotic if i start feeling better.
Truth: When you are taking an antibiotic, it is important to complete the full course of antibiotics even if symptoms have improved so that as many bacteria as possible are destroyed.

Myth: There is an easy way to solve the superbug problem.
Truth: There is currently no solution to the antibiotic resistance problem. The best way to ensure that you aren't resistant to antibiotics, is to do everything you can to avoid catching a cold so that you won't even have to worry about taking any antibiotics. Healthy lifestyle choices will help keep your body and your immune system health strong and working efficiently. Be sure you are eating a balanced diet, getting proper exercise and plenty of rest each night to avoid getting sick.