INDIANAPOLIS, Ind. — Indiana state health authorities are trying to bring more awareness to the issue of antibiotic resistance by urging patients to use all prescribed antibiotics safely and responsibly during the week of November 14 through 20. Governor, and Vice President Elect, Mike Pence has proclaimed this week “Get Smart About Antibiotics Week.”
This week marks this campaign’s seventh year campaign and is also a big Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) initiative. The campaign attempts to coordinate the work of the CDC’s Get Smart: Know When Antibiotics Work campaign while also enlisting the help of, and partnership with, all states, numerous nonprofit groups as well as various for-profit partners. The primary goal is to increase antibiotic stewardship in healthcare facilities, throughout communities and on our country’s farms.
State Health Commissioner Jerome Adams, M.D., M.P.H. says healthcare providers can help to greatly reduce this problem by responsibly prescribing prescriptions. Physicians can also ensure patients with serious bacterial infections will have access to effective and often life-saving medications.
Oftentimes, antibiotics, which only can address bacteria, are still prescribed for viral infections. Taking antibiotics for viral infections, such as many forms of bronchitis, the common cold or the flu, only increases the risks of getting recurrent infection that will then be antibiotic resistant. Treating a viral infection with antibiotics will not prevent others from catching the same infection, help the patient feel any better and will certainly not cure the infections.
When sick, all you might need is a couple days or rest. Prior to taking any antibiotics, it is important to verify with your healthcare provider whether an antibiotic is the most appropriate means of treatment. If you are prescribed an antibiotic to treat your bacterial infection, remember these very important tips:
- When prescribed an antibiotic, take it exactly as directed by the prescribing physician.
- Be sure to take the entire prescription, even if you are feeling better after a few days of treatment. If you do not finish all the medication, you run the risk of being re-infected if some of the bacteria is still active.
- Safely discard all unused medication. Today, most pharmacies offer a prescription take-back program or have envelopes which can be used to mail all unused medicines in an environmentally safe manner.
- Never share your antibiotics with others and do not take anyone else’s prescriptions. Any antibiotic can cause life-threatening allergic reactions in some people, so it is important to only take what is prescribed by a medical professional.
Health officials are now working with Butler University, the Indiana Hospital Association and Indiana University Hospitals a project aimed at educating medical professionals and patients about the serious health implications of overusing and overprescribing antibiotics. There will be an education booth at the Indianapolis Colts game against the Tennessee Titans on November 20.
If you need more information about antibiotic resistance or the appropriate use of antibiotics, visit cdc.gov/getsmart/week/.
