Call Us 604-892-3535
HealthFlex
×
  • Home
  • About Us
  • Our Staff
  • Medical Services
  • Appointments
  • Health Resources
  • Policies
  • FAQ
  • Blog
  • Contact

Antibiotics Aren’t Always the Answer

April 13, 2019sqmedclinicUncategorised


Doctors of BC

NOVEMBER 21, 2018  HOT HEALTH TOPICS ANTIBIOTICS

When we get sick, we tend to believe antibiotics are the cure. For decades, they have successfully been used to fight bacterial diseases such as pneumonia and strep throat. But when it comes to virus-based illnesses, antibiotics are completely useless. And as a result of years of misuse and overuse, bacteria have built resistance to the same drugs that once reliably defeated them – leading to antibiotic resistance.

Antibiotics%20

Antibiotic resistance occurs when bacteria develop the ability to defeat the drugs designed to destroy them, resulting in less effective antibiotics or fewer antibiotic options when we do face serious infection.  An estimated 700,000 people worldwide die annually from drug-resistant strains of bacterial infections. And unless action is taken, experts warn that by 2050, the annual death rate will soar to 10 million people worldwide – one of the largest global health threats in existence according to the World Health Organization.

So what can you do to help against antibiotic resistance? Individuals have an important role to combat this health crisis by using antibiotics responsibly. Here are a few tips to keep in mind when it comes to antibiotics:

  1. Antibiotics don’t work for everything. Antibiotics fight bacterial infections, but they don’t work against viral infections such as the flu or common cold. So talk to a doctor first who can determine the proper diagnosis and treatment.
  2. Taking unnecessary antibiotics may do more harm than good. Taking antibiotics when they aren’t needed can cause bacteria to become resistant to drugs over time, making it harder to treat serious infections that actually do require antibiotics.
  3. Antibiotics are not one-size-fits-all. Different antibiotics treat different types of bacterial infections. Taking the wrong medicine means it won’t be effective, and poses the risk of unwanted side effects and future drug resistance.
  4. Don’t use leftover antibiotics. Not all infections need antibiotics, and different infections require different antibiotics. Taking leftover antibiotics can cause unwanted side effects, interfere with the results of doctor ordered tests, and can lead to antibiotic resistance.
  5. Stopping too soon can make an infection recur. Just because you feel better, doesn’t mean all the bacteria have cleared out of your system.  Taking the entire prescription ensures there are no lingering bacteria, that the infection doesn’t return, and that the bacteria aren’t given a chance to build up a resistance to the antibiotic.  

To guarantee antibiotics continue to do their job for a long time to come, both patients and providers must ensure the right antibiotic, at the right dose, for the right length of time. Each time you unnecessarily take antibiotics, the effectiveness of the drug decreases and it may not work the next time you really need it. So when you’re feeling sick, talk with your doctor or healthcare provider before assuming antibiotics are the answer. Learn more at the BC Center for Disease Control(link is external).

Media stories on this topic:

CBC – Antibiotic resistance a serious health-care threat to Canadians, experts say(link is external)

CTV News – Antibiotic resistance costing Canada $1 billion per year: IPAC(link is external)

Vancouver Sun – Antibiotic resistance growing global threat that needs to be countered: experts(link is external)

The Times – Superbugs could kill up to 90,000 in three decades(link is external)

Search this Blog

Use the search box below to search within this Blog.

Categories

  • health
  • News
  • Uncategorised

Archives

  • August 2019
  • April 2019
  • August 2017
  • April 2017
  • December 2016
  • October 2016
  • August 2016

Tag Cloud

Health

Calendar

August 2022
S M T W T F S
 123456
78910111213
14151617181920
21222324252627
28293031  
« Aug    

COVID-19

BC Center for Disease Control:
http://www.bccdc.ca/health-info/diseases-conditions/covid-19

Vancouver Coastal Health:
http://www.vch.ca/about-us/news/vancouver-coastal-health-statement-on-coronavirus

Welcome

Dr. Y. Tashakkor, Internal Medicine Specialist
Works out of our office providing consultation services, as well as Cardiac Stress (treadmill) Testing, ECG and Holter Monitor services!
Please refer patients to our office to see Dr. Tashakkor for consults or stress testing.
Patients can call or drop into our office to arrange holter monitors or urgent ECGs.

Dr. Jennifer Carlisle, General Pediatrician
Works out of our office providing consultation services.
Please refer patients to our office to see Dr. Carlisle

HOURS OF OPERATION

We are open for appointments
0900 to 1700h Monday to Friday.
We are closed all statutory holidays.
Some of our physicians work early morning and evening clinics — please call for details

logo

37979 Cleveland Avenue, Squamish

p 604-892-3535, f 604-892-3545

sqmed3535@gmail.com

www.squamishmedicalclinic.com

Box 389, Squamish, BC, V8B0A3

sqmed3535@gmail.com

Please note the following regarding our clinic email:
-it is NOT monitored daily.
-NOT to be used for confidential patient information without written consent.
-NOT to be used for prescription refill requests.
-NOT to be used for new patient inquiries (we are currently NOT accepting new patients).
-NOT to be used for appointment cancellation requests.  If you need to cancel, confirm an appointment or follow-up on any results please call our office at 604-892-3535 during regular business hours.

Search this website

Calendar

Copyright ©2016 all rights reserved
Designed by Plethora Themes