Super Bugs A New Jersey task force looked into the problem of resistant bacteria, and found the culprit. Overuse and incorrect use of antibiotics has led to the appearance of super bugs -- bacteria that are immune to antibiotics, making it virtually impossible to kill them off. Part of the problem, the task force found, is public misconception. Many people believe that if they feel sick enough to go see the doctor, they need antibiotics. But even the very worst viruses -- which can cause severe colds, coughs, ear infections, and flu -- won't respond at all to antibiotics. That's because antibiotics are designed to fight only bacterial infections, not viral ones. And using antibiotics when they aren't necessary may help some microbes build up resistance to them. The biggest problems are found in hospitals, where antibiotics may be used routinely to stave off infections, sort of like preventive medicine. In the worst cases, the resistant microbes that develop can't be treated even the strong doses of intravenous antibiotics. And the CDC reports that approximately 90,000 patients are killed every year by bugs they picked up while in the hospital. So next time you're feeling under the weather, ask your doctor to run a few tests to determine what sort of illness you have. If it's not bacterial, you're better off with some good old R&R than you are with antibiotics. |
