This week the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, CDC, is promoting the smart use of antibiotics. In order to prevent antibiotic resistant infections, the CDC urges providers to be “smart” in prescribing antibiotics. Often patients and providers alike think a round of antibiotics will be the cure all for any type of infection. Remember, antibiotics kill bacteria, not viruses.
Think about how often you have taken antibiotics or someone in your household has in the last year?
Before accepting or prescribing antibiotics, consider the following CDC recommendations:
1. Know when antibiotics work.
2. Use antibiotics correctly and exactly as prescribed.
3. Understand the difference between viral and bacterial infections.
4. Consider the effects of antibiotic resistance.
Click here to find out more information provided by the CDC: http://www.cdc.gov/getsmart.
