Antibiotics for bacterial infection

 

What are antibiotics?

 

Antibiotics are medicines used to treat bacterial infectionsin people and animals. They work by either killing the bacteria or stopping them from growing and spreading.

Antibiotics can be taken in different ways:

• Orally (by mouth): This includes pills, capsules, or liquids.
• Topically (on the skin): This includes creams, sprays, or ointments for the skin, as well as eye ointments, eye drops, or ear drops.
• Injection or Intravenous (IV): For more serious infections, antibiotics may be given by injection or directly into the bloodstream through an IV.

 

What do antibiotics treat?

Antibiotics can treat specific bacterial infections, such as strep throat, urinary tract infections, and E. coli. However, some bacterial infections, like many sinus infections or some ear infections, may not need antibiotics. Taking antibiotics when they are not needed won’t help and can cause side effects. Your health care provider can decide the best treatment for you when you are sick, so avoid asking for antibiotics.

 

Do antibiotics treat viral infections?

Antibiotics do not treat viral infections. For example, you should not take antibiotics for:

• Colds and runny noses, even if the mucus is thick, yellow, or green
• Most sore throats (except for strep throat)
• The flu
• Most cases of bronchitis

 

What are the side effects of antibiotics?

Antibiotics can have side effects that range from mild to very severe. Common side effects include:

• Rash
• Nausea
• Diarrhea
• Yeast infections

More serious side effects may include:

• C. diff infections, which cause diarrhea and can lead to severe colon damage and, in some cases, death
• Severe and life-threatening allergic reactions

 

Why is it important to take antibiotics only when they're needed?

It’s important to take antibiotics only when needed because they can have side effects and lead to antibiotic resistance. Antibiotic resistance happens when bacteria change and become able to resist the effects of an antibiotic, allowing the bacteria to keep growing.

 

How do I use antibiotics correctly?

When you take antibiotics, it is very important that you take them responsibly:

·       Always follow the directions carefully. Finish the all prescription even if you feel better. Stopping too early can allow some bacteria to survive and cause reinfection.

·       Don’t save antibiotics for later.

·       Don’t share antibiotics with others.

·       Don’t take antibiotics prescribed for someone else. This could delay the right treatment, make you sicker, or cause side effects.

 

What is antibiotic resistance?

Antibiotic resistance occurs when bacteria change and can resist the effects of an antibiotic. The bacteria are not killed and continue to cause infections and multiply. The infections caused by these bacteria are known as resistant infections. These infections can be difficult or impossible to treat, and in some cases, they can be deadly.

Antibiotic resistance doesn't mean that your body is resistant to antibiotics.

There are many types of resistant infections, such as Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) and drug-resistant tuberculosis (TB). If you get resistant infections, you may need:

• A long hospital stay
• A long recovery period
• Follow-up visits with health care providers
• Treatments that are expensive and may cause severe side effects

Antibiotic resistance is one type of antimicrobial resistance. Other types of resistance can happen with viruses, fungi, and parasites as well.

 

How can antibiotic resistance be prevented?

Antibiotic resistance will always happen to some degree, as it occurs naturally. However, you can help prevent it by following these steps:

• Don't use antibiotics for viruses.
• Don't pressure your healthcare provider to prescribe antibiotics if they are not needed.
• Follow the instructions carefully when taking antibiotics.
• Do not share your antibiotics with others.
• Do not save antibiotics for later or use someone else's prescription.