Is an ANTIBIOTIC right for you?

Misuse and abuse of antibiotics is causing the drugs to be ineffective. Here are details on when you need them and when you don’t.

Misuse and abuse of antibiotics is causing the drugs to be ineffective.  Here are details on when you need them and when you don’t.

Background Info

Antibiotics are important medications that work to treat illnesses caused by bacteria, but they are often misused and over-prescribed. Misuse of antibiotics has been linked to harmful consequences, including the rise of antibiotic-resistant infections.

Sources

Source URL
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention: Get Smart Common Illnesseshttp://www.cdc.gov/getsmart/community/for-patients/common-illnesses/index.html
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention: Virus or Bacteria, What’s Got You Sick?http://www.cdc.gov/getsmart/community/materials-references/print-materials/everyone/virus-bacteria-chart.pdf
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention: Get Smart: Know When Antibiotics Workhttp://www.cdc.gov/getsmart/community/materials-references/print-materials/adults/b-general-color.pdf
Alliance for Prudent Use of Antibioticshttp://emerald.tufts.edu/med/apua/about_issue/when_how.shtml
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention: Antibiotic Safety and Adverse Eventshttp://www.cdc.gov/drugresistance/protecting_yourself_family.html
Colgan, R. & Powers, J (2001). Appropriate antimicrobial prescribing: approaches that limit antibiotic resistance. American Family Physician, 64(6).http://www.aafp.org/afp/2001/0915/p999.html
Mayo Clinic: Antibiotics - Misuse Puts You and Others at Riskhttp://www.mayoclinic.org/healthy-lifestyle/consumer-health/in-depth/antibiotics/art-20045720
New York State Department of Health - Antibiotic-Resistant Infectionshttp://on.ny.gov/1lA7tnR
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention - Measuring Antibiotic Prescribing http://www.forbes.com/pictures/ehmk45mljm/2-honda-civic/
United States Census Bureauhttp://www.census.gov/quickfacts/
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention - Unnecessary Prescriptionshttp://www.cdc.gov/getsmart/community/programs-measurement/measuring-antibiotic-prescribing.html
New York State of Health - Viral Prescription http://www.health.ny.gov/professionals/protocols_and_guidelines/antibiotic_resistance/introcon.htm
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention - Protecting Yourself and Your Familyhttp://www.cdc.gov/drugresistance/protecting_yourself_family.html
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention - Drug Resistancehttp://www.cdc.gov/drugresistance/index.html
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention - Antibiotic-Resistant Threatshttp://www.cdc.gov/drugresistance/pdf/ar-threats-2013-508.pdf
Choosing Wisely - Antibiotics: When You Need Them and When You Don’t http://www.choosingwisely.org/patient-resources/antibiotics/
Choosing Wisely - Five Questions to Ask Your Doctor Before You Take Antibiotics http://consumerhealthchoices.org/wp-content/uploads/2014/02/ChoosingWiselyAntibioticsPosterSmall.pdf