Antibiotics should only be taken when prescribed by a doctor for bacterial infections, as self-medication can lead to antibiotic resistance. Doctors consider factors like the diagnosed illness, sensitivity testing, potential side effects, and completing the full prescribed course of antibiotics. Overuse and misuse of antibiotics contributes to growing antibiotic resistance in bacteria. Antibiotic stewardship programs aim to combat resistance by promoting appropriate antibiotic prescribing and use.

1. FEATURES OF USE ANTIBIOTICS
There are featuresof use antibiotics.Antibioticsare farfromharmless,asdo mostotherdrugs.Should
take antibioticsonlywhentheyare prescribedbyadoctor (inthe annotationtoalmostall antibiotics,
youwill findawarning:“dispensedbyprescription”).Why?
Firs,nobodycan independentlyestablishthe exactdiagnosisof hisillness,especiallywhenitcomesto
infectiousdiseases.Evenif the diagnosisisestablished,onlyadoctorcan determine whatkindof
antibiotic,inwhatdosages,andforwhatdurationshoulduse it.Andone notunimportantpoint:before
youwill be assignedone oranotherantibiotic,the physicianshouldreferyoutoa laboratoryto
determine the sensitivityof yourorganismtoa numberof medicinesusedfortreatment.Dependingon
the reactionto the drugs,he writesasuitable antibioticforyou,namelythe one towhichyourorganism
has issuedthe maximumresponse.
Secondly,self-medicationwithantibioticsleadstothe result,counter-productive:youare still sick,but
to the doctor becomesmore difficulttodetermine whatitis,because the backgroundof antibioticsthe
disease canbe “wipedoff”symptoms.
In a numberof diseasesantibioticscontraindicated,forexample,inseverehepatic andrenal failure,
asthma,hay fever,diabetesanddiseasesof the hematopoieticsystem.Moreover,few people know that
not onlyuselessbutalsoharmful touse themforcolds,flu,hightemperatureorintestinaldisorders.
Antibioticsare effective onlyforthose diseaseswhichare causedbybacteria.Inviruses,these drugsdo
not work.Also,antibioticsdonotpossessanti-inflammatory,antipyreticandanalgesicproperties.Many
antibioticsare contraindicatedforchildrenunder15 years,as well aswomenduringpregnancyand
lactation.Antibiotic’ssideeffectsmayinclude:suppressionof the floraof the gastrointestinal tractand
the weakeningof immunity.Toavoidthis,while takingantibioticsprescribedvitaminsandmedications
to increase the immunity.
It isimportantnot to interruptthe course of antibiotics:if the doctorhasorderedyouto take on the
tablet3 timesdailyaftermealsfor5 days,and you’dlike,evenif youfeel considerable improvementon
the thirdday. Onlya full course of treatmentmayleadtorecovery.If the course has beeninterruptedor
takensmallerdoses,maydevelopresistance of the microorganismtothe drugand the disease enters
the chronic form,andthenthe treatmentwill have tobeginanew.
Do not take antibiotics withexpired!Suchproductsdonotpossessthe necessaryefficiencytocombat
the disease,andinaddition,cancause enormousharmto yourbody.Also – great riskof side effects.
Fighting Antibiotic Resistance with AntibioticStewardship
Antibioticscan be miracle drugsbuttheyalsohave risks.Poorprescribinganduse practicesare putting
patientsatunnecessaryriskforpreventable allergicreactions,super-resistantinfections,andC.difficile
infections(deadlydiarrhea).Antibioticscanfightinfectionsandsave liveswhenusedatthe rightplace,
at the righttime,andfor the rightduration.However,the overuseandmisuse of antibioticsinour

2. countryis contributingtoantibioticresistance—whenbacteriastoprespondingtothe drugsdesignedto
kill them.
More and more bacteriaare becomingresistanttothe antibioticsthatremaininourarsenal.Everyyear,
more than twomillionpeople inthe U.S.getinfectionsthatare resistanttoantibioticsandat least
23,000 people die asa result.If drug-resistantgermskeepgrowingandif we lose the effectivenessof
antibiotics,we mayalsolose ourabilitytotreatpatientswithsepsis,cancer,andorgantransplants,and
save victimsof burnsand trauma.Unfortunately,developingnew antibioticdrugs couldhelpbutnot
save us fromthisfate because resistantgermsevolve fasterthanwe are able todevelopdrugstotreat
them.We’re goingtohave to change how we use the antibioticswe alreadyhave.One wayCDCis
combatingresistance isbysupporting antibioticstewardshipprogramsacrossthe nationtomake sure
that antibioticsare prescribedandusedappropriately.
Viruses or Bacteria? What’s got you sick?
Antibioticstewardshipdoesnotmeanstoppingthe use of antibiotics;itmeansusingantibioticswhen
necessaryandappropriate.Stewardshipprogramswill helpuschange the wayantibioticsare prescribed
and usedtoday.CDC findsthatbetweenathirdanda half of all antibioticsusedinthe U.S.are either
unnecessaryorthe antibioticdoesnotmatchthe germ.Antibioticsare notneeded,forexample,for
colds,mostsore throats, andmany sinusinfections.(See CDC’sinfographicon“Examplesof When
Antibioticsare UrgentandNecessary[2.39MB]formore informationaboutwhenantibioticsare
needed.)
Stewardshipprogramscanreduce antibioticresistance andhealthcare costs,andincrease goodpatient
outcomes.Forexample,reducingthe use of high-riskantibioticsby30% inhospitalscanlowerC.difficile
(deadlydiarrhea) infectionsby26%. We all have a role toplay:by committingtodaytostewardshipand
otherinfectioncontrol principles,like properhandhygiene,we protectthe effectivenessof antibioticsin
the future.
CDC, the White House, and Other Leaders are Fighting Resistance Together
On Tuesday,June 2,leadersfromhumanandanimal healthorganizationsacrossthe countryare joining
togetheratthe White House todiscusshow theycan supportantibioticstewardship.Leadersare joining
forcesto improve antibioticprescribinganduse because theyrealize thatantibioticresistance andthe
use of antibioticsdoesnotjustaffectthe individual,butthe future of ourwhole community.Asthese
leadersshare theircommitments,youcantake part inpreventingresistance,too.
For more informationvisitusourwebsite:http://www.healthinfi.com