Antibiotic Resistance: Why Is It a Problem?

If you take an antibiotic when you have a viral infection, the antibiotic attacks helpful or benign bacteria in your body. This can then promote antibiotic-resistant properties in the bacteria that survive treatment, allowing them to multiply and pass on their resistance.

These resistance properties may have several effects. They may protect the bacteria from the drug or limit the drug’s access to the bacteria. Or resistance may cause the bacteria to change or destroy the drug. Antibiotic resistance can also create an opportunity for potentially harmful bacteria to replace harmless ones.

Some natural antibiotic resistance is normal and expected, but the way that drugs are used affects how quickly and how much resistance occurs. For many years, the introduction of new antibiotics outpaced the development of antibiotic resistance.

In recent years, however, the pace of drug resistance has led to a growing number of health care problems. In fact, more than 2.8 million infections from antibiotic-resistant bacteria occur in the United States each year, resulting in 35,000 deaths.

Antibiotic resistance can cause:

  • More serious illness.
  • Longer recovery.
  • More frequent or longer hospital stays.
  • More health care provider visits.
  • More expensive treatments.

Slowing Antibiotic Resistance

The good news is you can help slow the rise of antibiotic resistance with these simple tips:
  • Listen to your doctor. If the doctor says an antibiotic isn’t right for treating your condition, don’t pressure him or her to prescribe one for you.
  • Use antibiotics as prescribed. Take the prescribed daily amount, always complete the entire treatment unless told otherwise by your prescriber and be sure to tell your health care provider if you experience any side effects (especially rash or allergy-type drug reactions).
  • Never take leftover antibiotics for a later illness. They may not be the correct antibiotic. They likely don’t include a full treatment course.
  • Never take antibiotics prescribed for another person or let anyone else take your antibiotics.