Special to IFN
Antibiotics, if used appropriately, can be a powerful tool to combat bacterial infections within the body. As with any medication, if misused, they can do more harm than good to your health.
Antibiotics are, generally speaking, medications prescribed by a provider to combat bacterial infections. Make no mistake, antibiotics do not work to combat viral infections such as the common cold or flu.
“Viruses are a separate infection that antibiotics are not designed to target,” explained Matt Waters, pharmacist at Iredell Memorial Hospital. “A common misconception is that, when you don’t feel well, you should be prescribed an antibiotic. This can actually do more harm than good. Most of the time, viruses have to run their course, and that’s not what somebody wants to hear when they don’t feel well.”
Antibiotics are typically prescribed as a multi-dose series. It’s important to complete the series to reduce your chance of reinfection, even if you feel better.
“A good way to describe it is like pulling a weed out of the garden. If you pull the top of the weed, it looks better and you think you got rid of the weed, but the root is still there,” explained Waters.
Failing to complete your antibiotic course is like pulling the top of a weed. Much like the weed, your bacterial infection is likely to rear its ugly head once again.
“Bacteria are trying to survive just like we are. They will develop a way around the antibiotic if you don’t take it as prescribed,” Waters said.
A systemic issue society faces is antibiotic resistance. This is when bacteria become resistant to medications over time. These resistant bacteria can be passed between individuals, creating a widespread problem that takes time and resources to develop treatment for. This is why trusting your healthcare providers’ expertise on antibiotic dosage and duration is critical for individual and societal health.
Healthcare providers practice and encourage others to practice antimicrobial stewardship. This includes ensuring patients are given the right antibiotic for the right reason and duration, patients taking their prescriptions as directed, and practicing good hygiene.
“If your hands come in contact with infections like C Diff, a common gastrointestinal bacterial infection, the best way to combat it is to wash your hands with soap and water,” Waters said.
Try singing the alphabet song or “Happy Birthday” twice while scrubbing up, making sure to get the tops of your hands, under your fingernails, and your lower arms and wrists. If you don’t have access to soap and water, choose a 70 percent alcohol hand sanitizer.
“Don’t be conservative with hand sanitizer. Lather the hands and cover them,” he said.
As with all medications, antibiotics can have side effects and trigger adverse reactions. Be sure to alert your providers if you have any medication sensitivities.
About Iredell Health System
Iredell Health System includes Iredell Memorial Hospital; Iredell Davis Medical Center; Iredell Davis Behavioral Health Hospital; Iredell Mooresville; Iredell Home Health; Iredell Wound Care & Hyperbaric Center; Community and Corporate Wellness; Occupational Medicine; the Iredell Physician Network and more. Iredell Memorial Hospital is the largest nonprofit hospital in Iredell County. The comprehensive healthcare organization has 391 licensed beds; more than 2,000 employees; and has approximately 365 healthcare providers representing various specialties. Centers of excellence include Women’s and Children’s; Cardiovascular; Cancer; Surgical Services and Wellness & Prevention. The health system’s Iredell Mooresville campus is home to the area’s only 24-hour urgent care facility, as well as an ambulatory surgery center, imaging center, rehabilitation services, and physician practices. The mission
of Iredell Health System is to inspire wellbeing. For a comprehensive list of services and programs, visit www.iredellhealth.org.