Overuse of antibiotics especially taking antibiotics even when treatment is not appropriate enhances antibiotic resistance. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, approximately one-third to one-half of antibiotic uses in humans are either unnecessary or inappropriate.
Antibiotics treat a bacterial infection, not a viral infection. For example, an antibiotic is the appropriate treatment for a sore throat caused by the Streptococcus pyogenes bacteria. But it is not the correct treatment for most sore throats, which are caused by viruses.
Other common viral infections that do not benefit from antibiotic treatment include:
1/ the cold
2/ flu
3/ Pneumonia
Most types of cough
Some infection in the ear
Some sinus infection
Stomach cold
If you have a viral infection, take an antibiotic:
It will not cure the infection
It will not protect other people from disease
It will not help you or your child feel better
It may cause unnecessary and harmful side effects
Enhances antibiotic resistance
If you take an antibiotic and you already have a viral infection, the antibiotic attacks the bacteria in your body - which are beneficial or at least not cause disease. Then this improperly targeted treatment can enhance the antibiotic resistance properties of harmless bacteria that can share those properties with other bacteria, or create an opportunity for bacteria that can do harm to replace the harmless ones.
