Mistakes when using antibiotics

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Currently, the situation of overuse of antibiotics, indiscriminate use of antibiotics has left many consequences for health, causing extremely dangerous antibiotic resistance. In fact, this drug only works to treat bacterial diseases, not viruses, so to avoid mistakes when using antibiotics, patients need to strictly follow the instructions of the doctor. doctor.

1. What are the mistakes when using antibiotics?

In addition to the professional capacity of medical staff and doctors, it is the self-medication and self-prescribing habits of patients and the situation of buying antibiotics without a prescription at pharmacies that lead to the use of drugs. Arbitrary and inappropriate antibiotics, increasing antibiotic-resistant bacteria. Accordingly, mistakes when using antibiotics include:
Using antibiotics when there is no infection Choosing antibiotics inappropriately Using antibiotics in the wrong way Abuse of antibiotics in livestock In the wrong ways When using antibiotics mentioned above, overuse of antibiotics is the main and common cause of increasing the speed and level of antibiotic resistance in our country and many countries around the world.
SEE ALSO: Augmentin antibiotic: Not to be used arbitrarily

2. What is the abuse of antibiotics?

Mistakes in using antibiotics – especially taking antibiotics even when they are not an appropriate treatment – ​​promote antibiotic resistance. In Vietnam, up to one-third to one-half of antibiotic use in humans is unnecessary or inappropriate.
Antibiotics treat bacterial infections but not viral infections. For example, antibiotics are an appropriate treatment for a sore throat caused by the bacteria Streptococcus pyogenes (streptococcal). However, this is not an appropriate treatment because most cases of sore throat are caused by viruses.
Some diseases are usually caused by viruses but are often treated with antibiotics such as colds, flu, cough. In fact, taking antibiotics to treat viral infections will not improve the condition and may cause unwanted effects.
If the patient is on antibiotics when the real cause is a virus. The beneficial bacteria in the body will be attacked and weakened, creating conditions for harmful bacteria to grow and cause other infections.

3. What are the consequences of antibiotic abuse?

There are many consequences of using antibiotics, which can be mentioned as:
The disease becomes severe, the treatment time is prolonged. Frequent hospitalizations and relapses. Community transmission, making the treatment of common bacterial infections much more difficult than in the past. Increased burden on patients' families and underdeveloped health facilities. SEE ALSO: Antibiogram - solutions to reduce antibiotic resistance

4. What should be done to avoid mistakes when using antibiotics?

To combat the impact of antibiotic-resistant bacteria, besides the role of agencies and health workers, consumers can also protect themselves from the threat posed by antibiotic resistance by Follow the following instructions:
When you are sick, do not buy or use antibiotics without your doctor's prescription, especially in cases of cough, cold or flu caused by a virus. It is best to see a doctor to determine the bacteria causing the disease, if any, and to choose the right antibiotic to help treat it effectively and avoid the risk of antibiotic resistance. When using antibiotics, users need to follow the doctor's instructions, take the full dose, at the right time and in the right way. Do not arbitrarily quit or change the dose when the disease improves. Regularly monitor the effectiveness, unwanted effects, report back to the doctor for appropriate adjustment. Cook food thoroughly to remove disease-causing bacteria, including drug-resistant bacteria, before using. Carefully clean kitchen surfaces used to prepare or store raw ingredients before cooking to avoid the risk of cross-contamination. Limit the use of medically important antibiotics for animals, especially poultry and livestock used for food production. Our country is a country in the "red alert" of the abuse of antibiotics, the wrong use of antibiotics, leaving extremely serious consequences. Therefore, each person needs to learn how to use the right antibiotic in the right dose, with the right drug and follow the doctor's instructions. In addition, when you see any signs of illness, you need to see a doctor to get the right prescription.
Vinmec International General Hospital is the address for examination, treatment and prevention of diseases. When performing the examination process at Vinmec, customers will be welcomed and used modern facilities and machinery along with perfect medical services under the guidance and advice of doctors. Good doctors, well-trained both at home and abroad.
In case it is necessary to use antibiotics to treat the disease, the doctors at Vinmec will provide a treatment plan, and advise and guide patients to use drugs effectively, avoiding abuse and misuse. Indiscriminate antibiotics cause undesirable side effects such as antibiotic resistance.

Please dial HOTLINE for more information or register for an appointment HERE. Download MyVinmec app to make appointments faster and to manage your bookings easily.

References: mayoclinic.org, healthline.com