Do you need antibiotics for that cold?

You have probably heard about antibiotics being prescribed or overprescribed when not needed.  The experts recognize that germs mutant and become resistant to antibiotics.  Then when we need antibiotics, the drugs are not effective.  These bacteria have been named to designate this issue, such as methicillin-resistant staph aureus. 

What should we be doing about antibiotic resistance?  Use them appropriately and don’t push your healthcare provider to give you an antibiotic prescription unless he recommends it. 

A recent study reported that patients ask for an antibiotic prescription 23% of the time.  The main reasons people request antibiotics were that the patient thinks an antibiotic will cure the illness and help them feel better faster. 

How do you know when you need an antibiotic for an upper respiratory infection?  The Get Smart website for CDC provides information at http://www.cdc.gov/getsmart/index.html