Antibiotic Use: When Antibiotics Help, and CDC's Resources for Patients and Clinicians

Antibiotics aren't always the answer

Antibiotics can save lives, but they aren't always needed. Using them appropriately helps fight antimicrobial resistance. CDC's Be Antibiotics Aware effort aims to improve how antibiotics are prescribed and used.

For patients and families

• Antibiotic do's and don'ts.
• Antibiotic use and antimicrobial resistance: the facts and figures.
• Patient education resources on appropriate use and resistance.
• The Be Antibiotics Aware partner toolkit, for organizations spreading the word.

For health care providers

• Educational materials: handouts, prescription pads, posters and more.
• Stewardship resource bundles that providers and partner organizations can share.
• The Core Elements of Antibiotic Stewardship: key principles for improving antibiotic use, patient safety and outcomes.

The core elements of antibiotic stewardship. CDC graphic.

Common illnesses

Many common infections are caused by viruses, which antibiotics don't treat. CDC's basics on each:

Chest cold (acute bronchitis) — a sore chest and feeling tired can mean a chest cold.

Ear infection — your child's ear hurting could be an ear infection.

Sinus infection — a stuffy nose that just isn't getting better could be one.

Sore throat — a scratchy, painful throat is often caused by a virus.

Urinary tract infection — pain or burning when you urinate may mean a urinary tract infection.

Sources

Based on "Antibiotic Prescribing and Use," Centers for Disease Control and Prevention; a work of the United States government in the public domain. Illustrations are from CDC's pages; its stock photographs and campaign logo are not reproduced.