General Information About Antimicrobial Resistance
Antimicrobial resistance can develop in any type of microbe
Microbes can develop resistance to specific medicines. A common misconception
is that a person’s body becomes resistant to specific drugs. However,
it is microbes, not people, that become resistant to the drugs.
Drug resistance happens when microbes develop ways to survive the use of medicines
meant to kill or weaken them.
If
a microbe is resistant to many drugs, treating the infections
it causes can become difficult or even impossible.
Someone
with an infection that is resistant to a certain medicine
can pass that resistant infection to another person.
In this way, a hard-to-treat illness can be spread from
person to person. In some cases, the illness can lead to
serious disability or even death.
Prevent the Spread of Antimicrobial Resistance
- Antimicrobial drugs intended for bacterial infections should not be taken
for viral infections such as colds, coughs, or the flu.
-
If your health care provider determines that you do not
have a bacterial infection, ask about ways to help relieve
your symptoms. Do not pressure your provider to prescribe
an antibiotic.
- Take
medicine exactly as your health care provider prescribes.
-
Take the antibiotic until it is gone, even if you are feeling
better. Do not save the medication to treat yourself or
others later.
Protect Yourself from Contagious Diseases
Antimicrobial drugs intended for bacterial infections should not be taken
for viral infections such as colds, coughs, or the flu.
If your health care provider determines that you do not
have a bacterial infection, ask about ways to help relieve
your symptoms. Do not pressure your provider to prescribe
an antibiotic.
Take
medicine exactly as your health care provider prescribes.
Take the antibiotic until it is gone, even if you are feeling
better. Do not save the medication to treat yourself or
others later.
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