5 things you should know about antibiotics

It has been 60 years since antibiotics made their miraculous debut as agents capable of disarming the growth of potentially dangerous bacteria. Since then, these drugs have proven to be staunch allies in the fight against infection. But because bacteria have often -- and repeatedly -- been exposed to antibiotics over the years, most of these bugs have developed ways to outwit the killing power of the drugs, making it difficult for doctors today to treat certain infections.

This can be devastating for patients as doctors scramble to find a drug to which the bacteria invading their bodies is not yet immune and which could very well save their lives. This is especially true for patients in the hospital, but health professionals agree that we all need to moderate our use of antibiotics in order to curb the spread of antibiotic resistance. Efforts are underway at major public health organizations, including the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention in Atlanta, to make doctors and the public aware of the dangers of overusing and misusing antibiotics. Here's what you need to know about antibiotics.

1. Antibiotics only treat bacterial infections.
You or a member of your family only need an antibiotic when your illness is caused by bacteria. Antibiotics are useless against illnesses caused by viruses. So when your child has a cold or the flu, an antibiotic won't do anything to clear up the problem, says Dr. Tony Mazzulli, deputy chief microbiologist of the Toronto Medical Laboratory at Mount Sinai Hospital. Antibiotics will get rid of fluid in the ear only if the infection is caused by bacteria. For tips on proper antibiotic use, visit antibiotics-info.org.

2. You have to take the full course of antibiotics for them to be effective.
Your doctor prescribes a 10-day course of antibiotics but you stop taking them after only four days when you start to feel better. Sound familiar? Well, you may feel better but it's possible that some bacteria are still alive. And they may be resistant to the antibiotic or may mutate and become resistant. These bacteria can then spread to other people who may develop an infection.