What are antibiotics?
Antibiotics are medications used to treat or prevent infections caused by bacteria, such as strep throat or urinary tract infections. Antibiotics do NOT treat infections caused by viruses, such as the common cold, many coughs and ear infections, or influenza (the flu).
What antibiotic is the best option?
There are many types of antibiotics, some fight many different bacteria, including normal healthy bacteria, and some target specific bacteria. Choosing targeted antibiotics will fight specific bacteria and will be less likely to disturb your child’s healthy bacteria.
What is antibiotic resistance?
Antibiotic resistance occurs when antibiotics become less effective or do not work.
How does antibiotic resistance happen?
When bacteria that naturally live on our skin and in our bodies are exposed to antibiotics or antibacterials, the weaker bacteria die, but stronger (resistant) ones survive. When the resistant bacteria multiply, they can cause serious infection, or live on your skin or inside your body without causing infection. Resistant bacteria can change more than once so that they are resistant to several antibiotics. This makes some bacteria very hard to kill.
Why is antibiotic resistance a problem?
Antibiotic resistance is a problem because we naturally have bacteria on our skin and inside our bodies. If those resistant bacteria cause an infection or are passed on to our friends and family, those infections will be more difficult to treat. When bacteria are resistant to antibiotics, most common antibiotics may not work, and it may be hard to find antibiotics that will work to kill the bacteria. Sometimes the only effective antibiotic to fight infections from resistant bacteria needs to be given through an intravenous line (IV).
Causes of antibiotic resistance
Antibiotic resistance happens for many reasons. One reason is because antibiotics are used when they should not be, such as:
- taking an antibiotic when it is not needed (such as to treat a viral illness)
- taking the wrong antibiotic or the wrong dose
- stopping an antibiotic too soon
- using an antibiotic that was prescribed for somebody else
Antibacterial cleaning products that are used in the home, such as household cleaners or bath products, can also lead to antibiotic resistance. Studies have shown that plain soap is just as good at killing bacteria in the home as products labelled antibacterial. In addition, giving animals antibiotics to promote growth or prevent illness can generate resistance in animal bacteria that can later be passed to humans.
Prevention of antibiotic resistance
The following are ways that you can help prevent antibiotic resistance:
- Ask your health-care provider if antibiotics are the right treatment for your child.
- If your child needs antibiotics, ask if your child is on the best type of antibiotic for their infection, and if there is a more targeted option available.
- Always give the full dose that is prescribed.
- Give antibiotics only to the child for whom they were prescribed.
- If you have old antibiotics leftover in your house, take them to a medication take-back program if there is one available in your area.
- Use plain soaps and household cleaners instead of ones that are labeled as antibacterial.
Safe disposal of antibiotics
Antibiotics that end up in our water supply make the problem of antibiotic resistance worse. This usually happens if antibiotics are flushed down the toilet, placed in the garbage or poured down the sink.
Many pharmacies have medication take-back programs. If possible, return your unused over-the-counter and prescription medications to your pharmacy. If your pharmacy does not have a medication take-back program check with your municipality about how to dispose of hazardous household waste, including over-the-counter and prescription medications.