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Taking Antibiotics
How to Use Them Safely and Effectively When fighting infection, antibiotics can be life- saving medications, but using them incorrectly can harm your body. Taking antibiotics when you shouldn’t can lead to antibiotic resistance. Then the medications that were used to fight off harmful germs won’t work anymore.
Clean your hands. This is one of the best ways to prevent the spread of germs that cause infections and to keep you and your family healthy. Ask about symptom relief. Talk to your doctor about other ways to relieve symptoms of your illness so you can feel better. Ask about watchful waiting. Some infections can get better without antibiotics. Your doctor may recommend waiting a few days to see if you get better before prescribing you antibiotics. Take antibiotics as prescribed. Even if you feel better, do not skip doses or stop taking an antibiotic early without approval from your doctor. Never take expired antibiotics. They can stop working effectively and lead to serious infections with resistant germs. Throw leftover antibiotics away. Ask your pharmacist about the best way to get rid of leftover antibiotics.
While you’re in the hospital, your doctor will regularly review your medications, including antibiotics, to make sure you are on the right medication at the right dose. They may change the medication or dose, or they may stop giving you antibiotics if you don’t need them anymore. Take these steps to prevent infection and improve antibiotic use after you leave the hospital: Keep up with vaccines. Vaccines help prevent infections that may require antibiotics. They also help to stop diseases from spreading. } See p. 25 for information about important vaccines for adults. Tell your doctor about any healthcare you received outside the United States in the last six months, especially if you’ve stayed overnight in a hospital or had a medical procedure.
Learn More For tips on using antibiotics after discharge, scan the QR code or visit
cdc.gov/antibiotic-use .
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