Antibiotic Use

Last updated: 01 August 2005

What are the main types of germs that cause infections?

Viruses and bacteria are the two main types of germs that cause infection.

Antibiotics cannot kill viruses but can kill bacteria. Viral infections should not be treated with antibiotics.

Viral illnesses include:

• Common cold - stuffy nose, sore throat, sneezing, cough headache.
• Influenza (flu) - fever, chills, body aches, headache, sore throat, dry cough.
• Many coughs.
• Acute bronchitis (cough, fever) - almost always caused by viruses.
• Pharyngitis (sore throat) - most sore throats are caused by viruses and are not effectively treated with an antibiotic.
• Viral gastroenteritis.

Bacterial infections should be treated with antibiotics. Bacterial infections can include:

• Ear infections - antibiotics are used for most, but not all ear infections.
• Severe sinus infections - lasting two or more weeks.
• Strep throat.
• Urinary tract infection.

What should I ask my doctor if I am prescribed antibiotics?

If your doctor prescribes antibiotics, you should ask the following questions:

• Why do I need antibiotics?
• What is the antibiotic supposed to do?
• What are the side effects of antibiotics?
• Is there anything that can prevent the side effects?
• Should the antibiotic be taken at a special time and with or without food?
• Does the antibiotic interfere with the effectiveness of other medication such as birth control pills?
• Are there any possible adverse reactions if the antibiotic is taken with other medications, food or alcohol?

How do I take antibiotics correctly?

• Do not demand that your doctor give you antibiotics for a viral infection.
• If you do have a bacterial infection, and you are given antibiotics, take them as ordered by your doctor.
    - Keep taking them until the last one is gone, even if you feel better.
    - By stopping your antibiotic before your doctor tells you to, you allow bacteria to form resistance to that antibiotic.
• Do not take an antibiotic that has been prescribed for someone else.
• Do not let someone else take your antibiotic, even if the symptoms are the same.
• Keep a written record of when and how often to take the antibiotic. If you forget or miss a dose, ask your doctor or pharmacist what you should do.

Hand washing

Hand cleaning is very important. Wash your hands after you use the bathroom, before you touch food and after you sneeze or cough.

• To wash your hands, you should use soap and water. Wet your hands under clean, running water.
• Produce a good lather with the soap.
• Rub your hands back and forth and over each other, applying pressure when you do this.
• Do this for 15 to 20 seconds.
• Rinse off all the soap and dry your hands right away.

Can antibiotics be harmful?

Antibiotics are generally safe and very helpful in fighting disease but there are certain cases where antibiotics can actually be harmful. These are some things to watch for while taking antibiotics:

• Side effects - eg nausea, diarrhoea and stomach pain. Be sure that your doctor has told you about side effects. It is very important to notify your doctor if you have any side effects from your antibiotics.
• Allergic reaction - eg rash, itching and in severe cases, difficulty in breathing. Tell your doctor about any drug allergies you have had in the past. Contact your doctor immediately if you have any allergic reactions from your antibiotics.
• Antibiotic resistance - this may result when antibiotics are used too often or inappropriately for viral infections. When resistance develops, the antibiotic is not able to kill the germs causing the infection. Every time you take an antibiotic when you really don't need it or if you take it incorrectly, you increase your chance of someday getting an illness that is resistant to antibiotics.