How You Can Help Fight Antibiotic Resistance

1. Do not demand antibiotics from your doctor.
Antibiotics are not effective against viral infections like the common cold, the flu and most sore throats, yet many patients still ask for antibiotics for these illnesses. In fact, patient demand is cited by doctors as one of the contributing factors to the over-prescription of antibiotics. Hence, you can play your part by not asking for unnecessary prescriptions. Instead, talk with your doctor about antibiotic resistance and ask whether an antibiotic is likely to be beneficial for your illness.

2. Complete the prescribed course of antibiotics.
Do not stop taking your antibiotics or save them for future use, even though you feel better. When a patient does not complete the prescribed course of antibiotics, drug-resistant bacteria not killed in the first days of treatment can proliferate, leading to the growth of more resistant strains.

3. Do not share antibiotics with someone else.
This means not to share your antibiotics with another person, and not to take an antibiotic that has been prescribed for someone else.

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