Too Much of a Good Thing?

By Mark Loehrke

Antibiotic Awareness Week aims to promote responsible use of these wonder drugs

Ask anyone who has had a nasty bug knocked out quickly by an antibiotic, and you’ll be hard-pressed to find a discouraging word about these little miracles of modern medicine. 

But even miracles can have unintended consequences, which is one of the messages the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention is looking to get across during its annual U.S. Antibiotic Awareness Week, slated this year from Nov. 18 through 24. The goal? To educate individuals, families, and health care providers on the responsible use of antibiotics and antifungal drugs.

Why is that message so important? Because while the benefits of antibiotics can truly be amazing for treating certain infections caused by bacteria—such as strep throat, whooping cough, and urinary tract infections—overuse or misuse can lead to antibiotic resistance, which is when infections become resistant to the drugs designed to treat them, making drugs powerless and these “super bugs” much harder to fight. (According to the CDC, millions of drug-resistant infections arise in the United States each year.)

The DuPage County Health Department will be stressing this in its local efforts related to the awareness week. “Fostering greater awareness and improving the way we take antibiotics can help keep us healthy now, help fight drug resistance, and ensure that these lifesaving medicines will be available for future generations,” explains the department’s public information specialist, Cailyn Eckelberry. “Anytime antibiotics are used they can contribute to the development of drug resistance, which is why we encourage people to only use antibiotics when they are needed.”

Eckelberry notes that, much like the rest of the country, DuPage County reflects trends in antibiotic overuse and a rising number of infections due to antibiotic resistance. The county health department, she says, works throughout the year to promote awareness and provide education to health care providers and patients across hospitals, pharmacies, doctors’ offices, dental practices, and nursing homes. But this week is an opportunity to bring the issue to the fore, especially as we enter the heart of sickness season in the Midwest. 

One of the key messages: Antibiotics are great, but only when used properly. “Antibiotics aren’t always the answer when you’re sick,” she says. “Taking antibiotics when you don’t actually need them won’t help you—they don’t work on viruses, for example. That’s why it’s always a good idea to ask a health care professional for tips on how to feel better while your body is trying to fight off an infection.”

Another crucial point: Stay healthy in the first place, preventing infections before they happen. Everyday actions—like washing your hands, preparing food safely, keeping up with recommended vaccinations—all go along way.  

Antibiotic Addenda

To help prevent the negative impacts of antibiotic misuse, the DuPage County Health Department offers a few pointers:

• DO get all recommended vaccines to help prevent infections, reduce the need for antibiotics, and fight drug resistance.
• DO take antibiotics exactly as prescribed.
• DO NOT share antibiotics with others.
• DO NOT save antibiotics for later.
• DO NOT take antibiotics prescribed for someone else.
• DO dispose of any expired or unused medications through drug take-back programs, which are often located at pharmacies and police stations.

Photo Illustrations: iSTOCK