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What You Need to Know About Antibiotic Resistance – Transcript
Antibiotics save human and animal lives. Antibiotics do not work on viruses, like the common cold. Antibiotic resistance (AR) occurs when bacteria and fungi develop the ability to defeat the antibiotics designed to kill them. Infections caused by resistant germs can be hard, if not impossible, to treat. AR can affect people in any stage of life, in all regions of the world. It’s an urgent threat to public health. Healthy habits can help stop germs from spreading. Get recommended vaccines. Keep hands and wounds clean. Manage chronic conditions, like diabetes. Only take antibiotics when needed, as prescribed by your doctor. To learn more about antibiotic resistance, visit cdc.gov/DrugResistance.