(NC) At some point in your life you likely have been prescribed an antibiotic to treat a bacterial infection.
But bacteria are very devious — a fraction might resist the antibiotic attack and pass their resistance to future generations of germs. This happens faster and more often when we use antibiotics when they’re not needed. Learn how to get your antibiotics working for you:
- Always take antibiotics only as prescribed by your healthcare provider.Antibiotic doses are calculated precisely to make sure to wipe out the bug you have and keep it from coming back. If you don’t follow their instructions, you run the risk of rendering antibiotics useless.
- Tell a healthcare provider if you have a bad reaction.Not everyone can take all antibiotics. Some people may have itching and skin rashes, while others may have diarrhea and vomiting. If you start having these symptoms or feel worse after starting the antibiotics, make sure to talk to a healthcare provider.
- Never share your antibiotics.Misery loves company, and it can be tempting to share your medicine with those who seem to have a similar illness to yours. But you could actually do more harm than good. First, you should be taking your antibiotics only as directed by your healthcare provider. Second, encourage anyone who is sick to visit their own healthcare provider for treatment.
Find more information online at canada.ca/antibiotics.
