Antibiotics

A Powerful Game Changer…

It’s hard to imagine that a hundred years ago, there were no antibiotics. Antibiotics are a group of medications that kill bacteria that can cause serious illness and even death. In a world before antibiotics, people of all ages, especially babies, children, and the elderly died from what today we consider run-of-the-mill infections, either inside the body or on the skin. Baruch Hashem, since the discovery of antibiotics, many people have been saved from considerable harm and death due to infections ravaging their bodies.

…And A Growing Danger

Taking antibiotics in excess, taking them incorrectly, or taking them for viral infections that don’t respond to antibiotics, is causing a disturbing reality: the upsurge of harmful bacteria that are stronger and more powerful than ever before. These are antibiotic-resistant bacteria. As scary as it sounds, it’s true. Overuse of antibiotics is making bacteria more sinister than ever. What can you do about it?

1. Follow instructions carefully. Never stop taking antibiotics that your doctor prescribed, even if you feel better. Take them for the full course your doctor recommended.
2. Never share your antibiotics with others. If they have a viral infection, antibiotics won’t cure the problem, and you will just be contributing to creating more antibiotic-resistant bacteria. Even if they do have a bacterial infection, different infections need different antibiotics. You need a lab to figure out which is the right match.
3. Ditto for taking antibiotics from someone else without a doctor’s approval. Even if you think you have the exact same thing as your friend, get it checked out by a doctor.