Getting the best out of antibiotics
Acclaimed as the “wonder drugs” of the 20th century, antibiotics easily rate among the best of miracles worked by modern medicine. Yet, today, the human race is on the verge of squandering this big advantage. Due to their widespread misuse, antibiotics are rapidly losing their usefulness.
Why antibiotics are losing
effectiveness?
If antibiotics are used too often for conditions they can’t treat, like colds, flu or other viral infections, they become less effective against the bacteria they’re intended to treat. Not taking antibiotics exactly as prescribed also leads to problems.
What you can do to safeguard antibiotics
Don’t take antibiotics every time you’re sick. Antibiotics are effective in treating most bacterial infections, but they’re not useful against viral infections such as colds, acute bronchitis or the flu.
Take antibiotics exactly as prescribed. Keep yourself clean. Wash your hands thoroughly with soap and water, especially after using the toilet, changing a diaper, or before handling food. Also, keep food preparation areas clean.
Protect yourself and others
When you misuse antibiotics, you help create resistant microorganisms that can cause new and hard-to-treat infections. That’s why the decisions you make about using antibiotics, unlike almost any other medicine you take, have far-reaching consequences. Be responsible in how you use antibiotics to protect your health and that of your family.
The writer is senior specialist, Safdarjung Hospital and professor, VM Medical College and a well-known columnist
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