How to Avoid Antibiotic Resistant Bacteria

Antibiotic resistance occurs when bacteria or other microbes stop responding to antibiotic drugs or chemicals. Antibiotics can sometimes destroy the healthy bacteria that we need to digest food, but leave some of the bad bacteria. The bad bacteria can grow and multiply, causing harm by spreading disease.

Difficulty: Easy

Instructions

1. Practice good hygiene. Always wash your hands and use an alcohol-based hand sanitizer.

2. Take antihistamines, cough suppressants or nasal decongestants for cold or flu symptoms. Antibiotics do not work against viral illnesses.

3. Use antibiotics as prescribed by your doctor, even when you start to feel better. Your body may become re-infected by harmful bacteria if you stop taking the antibiotics early.

4. Throw away unused antibiotics once you've completed the course of your prescription. Saving the antibiotics and taking them the next time you get sick can breed antibiotic resistance. Also, do not take an antibiotic prescribed for someone else because that can also lead to a bacterial infection.

5. Discuss with your doctor other alternatives for relieving your symptoms. Avoid demanding an antibiotic even when your doctor determines it is unnecessary.

6. Remember to cover your mouth and nose whenever you're sneezing or coughing, and use a tissue. Stay home to get some rest, or see a doctor if you feel sick. These are some of the things that you can do to prevent antibiotic-resistant bacterial infection in the community.

Tips & Warnings

• Always use antibiotics wisely and as prescribed by a doctor. Antibiotic resistance bacteria has become problematic because the medicine kills sensitive bacteria, but leaves resistant bacteria to grow, possibly causing more illness.

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