Effects of Antibiotics over an Extended Period : First of all, it should be noted that any potentially effective drug has possible side effects. In fact, no medication, whether it is by prescription or available over the counter, should be utilized without some consideration of the potential for toxic effects. Antibiotics, even used for short periods of time, let alone for life-long therapy, raise the issues of both toxicity and the emergence of bacterial antibiotic resistance.

It is also important to note that antibiotics are frequently used in settings where they will not provide any benefits. An example of this sort of inappropriate use of antibiotics is for viral infections, such as the common cold. In fact, there is a tendency for patients to believe that if they are ill with an "infection", an antibiotic is the solution. Well, it's not always.

In reality, inappropriately used antibiotics will do nothing except place the patient at an unnecessary risk for potential side effects. In addition, too much use of an antibiotic can cause bacteria to become increasingly antibiotic resistant. Consequently, the resistant bacteria will not respond to the antibiotic in the future when this therapy may truly be needed. Thus, antibiotics should be used sparingly and with caution in all situations. If a physician tells a person that an antibiotic is unlikely to be helpful, it is in that person's best interest to not take the antibiotic.

Antibiotic Resistance - A Growing Problem : Antibiotic resistance has been a problem for nearly as long as we've been using antibiotics. Not long after the introduction of penicillin, a bacterium known as Staphylococcus aureus began developing penicillin-resistant strains. Today, antibiotic-resistant strains of S. aureus bacteria as well as various enterococci-bacteria that colonize the intestines-are common and pose a global health problem in hospitals. More and more hospital-acquired infections are resistant to the most powerful antibiotics available, methicillin and vancomycin. These drugs are reserved to treat only the most intractable infections in order to slow development of resistance to them.

If you take Antibiotics, do so wisely : If your doctor prescribes antibiotics, take them carefully. Follow the directions on the prescription and finish taking all the pills, even if you are feeling better before they're gone. Prescriptions are written to cover the time your body needs to fight off harmful bacteria. If you stop taking an antibiotic early, any bacteria that are still alive can renew an infection and potentially develop resistance.
br> Only use antibiotics from a new prescription. Don't take leftover medications or those prescribed for someone else. Leftover antibiotics won't make up a complete dose and if you do have a bacterial infection, a complete course of treatment will be necessary to kill all the disease-causing bacteria in your body. Any surviving organisms will be stronger and more likely to be resistant. Also remember that while antibiotics are generally safe, they kill most of the bacteria in your body that are sensitive to them, including helpful bacteria. This may result in side effects such as stomach upset, diarrhea, and vaginal infections.

Using antibiotics inappropriately : Antibiotics are designed to treat specific types of bacteria and some nonbacterial organisms, but they are not effective for treating viruses. Infections due to viruses are treated with antiviral drugs. The major concern with the inappropriate use of antibiotics or antiviral drugs is the development of resistance to the drug.
br> The longer or more frequently bacteria and viruses are exposed to a drug, the greater the chance that they will develop ways to resist the effects of the drug. Resistance also is promoted if the dose of medication is too low. Moreover, once resistance develops, the ability to resist can be transferred to other bacteria. Drug resistance is a serious problem because we have a limited number of antibiotics and antiviral drugs.
br> To decrease the development of drug resistance, antibiotics and antiviral drugs should be prescribed only when they are likely to be effective and in high enough doses and for an adequate length of time to eradicate the bacterium or virus. Multiple agents should be used when there is a strong likelihood that one drug will not eradicate the bacterium or virus.