Principles of safe antibiotic use

Antibiotics are a major turning point in the history of human medicine, helping to save the lives of millions of people suffering from infectious diseases. However, antibiotic resistance is increasing at a dangerous level, affecting the health and development of the community. “Stop antibiotic abuse – Join hands today” with the following 5 principles of antibiotic use:

1. Using antibiotics incorrectly reduces the effectiveness of the medicine

Microorganisms are very small organisms, including bacteria, viruses and fungi. For example, influenza viruses often cause coughs and colds, pneumococcus bacteria can cause pneumonia, and filamentous fungi can cause skin infections. In addition, different microorganisms can be the cause of the same disease. For example: sore throat can be caused by both bacteria or viruses. However, only for diseases caused by bacteria are antibiotics effective. Antibiotics only kill or inhibit the growth of bacteria, but have no effect on other types of microorganisms. Using antibiotics properly, bacteria can learn to resist antibiotics, making the antibiotics no longer effective.

2. Antibiotics do not help treat viral diseases such as flu or colds

Colds and flu; Most cases of sore throat and bronchitis (85-95%) are caused by viruses. Antibiotics are not effective in treating these cases.

Strep throat is a bacterial disease, accounting for 20-30% of sore throat cases in children and 5-15% of sore throat cases in adults. This disease needs to be treated with antibiotics as prescribed by your doctor to ensure safety and effectiveness and not cause antibiotic resistance.

3. Use antibiotics correctly to ensure drug effectiveness: Correct antibiotic; Correct dosage; Correct route of use; On time

Antibiotics today have become a widely used drug. However, the overuse of antibiotics causes drug resistance and many other harmful effects such as: ineffectiveness, disease-causing bacteria still exist and can be transmitted to others.

4. Do not share antibiotics with relatives or friends

Don’t save antibiotics for your next illness.

Use the exact antibiotic your doctor prescribes for you. Do not miss doses. Complete the prescribed course of treatment even if you feel better. If treatment ends too soon, some bacteria may survive and cause illness again.

Do not take antibiotics prescribed for someone else. This antibiotic may not be suitable for your condition. Using the wrong medication can delay proper treatment and make you sick. If your doctor determines that you do not have an infection, ask how to relieve your symptoms and do not ask him or her to prescribe antibiotics. born to you.

5. Only use antibiotics with a doctor’s prescription

Strep throat is a type of infection caused by bacteria. If not treated carefully, the disease can lead to complications such as nephritis or rheumatic heart disease. Treatment with antibiotics will help relieve symptoms, shorten the duration of illness, and reduce the risk of the above complications. At the same time, it helps limit the spread of disease to those around you.

However, to achieve effective treatment, it is necessary to use antibiotics in the full dose and for the full duration as prescribed by the doctor. Stopping antibiotics early or not taking enough doses can cause antibiotic resistance, making the disease more likely to recur and be more severe than the original.

Always remember: use the right antibiotic, the right dose, don’t miss a dose, and take it for the full length of time as prescribed by your doctor, even if you feel better. Leaving treatment unfinished gives the bacteria an opportunity to survive again, continue to multiply and become resistant to antibiotics.

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