Antibiotics

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Basics

• Summary
• Start Here

Learn More

• Related Issues

See, Play and Learn

• Health Check Tools
• Videos and Tutorials

Research

• Clinical Trials
• Journal Articles

Resources

• Reference Desk
• Find an Expert

For You

• Children
• Patient Handouts

Summary

Antibiotics are powerful medicines that fight bacterial infections. Used properly, antibiotics can save lives. They either kill bacteria or keep them from reproducing. Your body's natural defenses can usually take it from there.

Antibiotics do not fight infections caused by viruses, such as

• Colds
• Flu
• Most coughs and bronchitis
• Sore throats, unless caused by strep

If a virus is making you sick, taking antibiotics may do more harm than good. Using antibiotics when you don't need them, or not using them properly, can add to antibiotic resistance. This happens when bacteria change and become able to resist the effects of an antibiotic.

When you take antibiotics, follow the directions carefully. It is important to finish your medicine even if you feel better. If you stop treatment too soon, some bacteria may survive and re-infect you. Do not save antibiotics for later or use someone else's prescription.

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention

Start Here

• Antibiotics: When They Can and Can't Help (American Academy of Family Physicians)
• Get Smart: Know When Antibiotics Work - What Everyone Should Know (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention)
• Get Smart: Know When Antibiotics Work - What You Can Do (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention)

Related Issues

• About Antibiotic Resistance (Alliance for the Prudent Use of Antibiotics)
• Antibacterial Agents (Alliance for the Prudent Use of Antibiotics)
• Antibiotic Safety (Association for Professionals in Infection Control and Epidemiology) - PDF
• Antibiotic-Associated Diarrhea (Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research)
• CDC Vital Signs: Making Health Care Safer -- Antibiotic Rx in Hospitals (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention) Also in Spanish
• Get Smart: Know When Antibiotics Work - Bronchitis (Chest Cold) (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention) Also in Spanish
• Get Smart: Know When Antibiotics Work - Common Cold and Runny Nose (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention) Also in Spanish
• Get Smart: Know When Antibiotics Work - Ear Infections (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention) Also in Spanish
• Get Smart: Know When Antibiotics Work - Influenza (Flu) (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention)
• Get Smart: Know When Antibiotics Work - Sinus Infection (Sinusitis) (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention) Also in Spanish
• Get Smart: Know When Antibiotics Work - Sore Throat (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention) Also in Spanish
• Get Smart: Know When Antibiotics Work - Symptom Relief (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention)
• Get Smart: Know When Antibiotics Work - Urinary Tract Infection (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention)
• Penicillin Allergy (Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research) Also in Spanish
• Vancomycin-Resistant Enterococci in Healthcare Settings (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention)

Health Check Tools

• Antibiotics Quiz (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention)

Videos and Tutorials

• Antibiotics vs. Bacteria: Fighting the Resistance (National Library of Medicine) Also in Spanish

Clinical Trials

• ClinicalTrials.gov: Anti-Bacterial Agents (National Institutes of Health)
• ClinicalTrials.gov: Vancomycin-Resistant Enterococci (National Institutes of Health)

Journal Articles References and abstracts from MEDLINE/PubMed (National Library of Medicine)

• Article: Home Intravenous Antibiotic Therapy.
• Article: Longer-Term Assessment of Azithromycin for Reducing Childhood Mortality in Africa.
• Article: Prophylactic antibiotics in the prevention of infection after operative vaginal delivery...
• Antibiotics -- see more articles
• Prophylactic use of antibiotics -- see more articles

Reference Desk

• Antibiotic / Antimicrobial Resistance Glossary (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention)
• Antibiotics and Resistance: Glossary (Alliance for the Prudent Use of Antibiotics)

Find an Expert

• Alliance for the Prudent Use of Antibiotics
• Centers for Disease Control and Prevention Also in Spanish
• Food and Drug Administration
• National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases

Children

• Danger of Antibiotic Overuse (For Parents) (Nemours Foundation) Also in Spanish

Patient Handouts

• Central venous catheters - ports (Medical Encyclopedia) Also in Spanish