Before antibiotics were developed, the rate of death due to an infection was incredibly high. In fact, 30% of all deaths recorded in the United States were because of a bacterial infection!

Thankfully, we don’t have to worry as much about infections nowadays, all because of antibiotics. They are incredibly effective in eradicating infections quickly and are a reliable tool for many medical professionals and patients alike. Our team at AFC Urgent Care Cleveland shares the facts about these powerful medications below.

What Is the Timeline of An Antibiotic?

You always need to get a medical provider’s approval before taking a round of antibiotics. If he or she decides that your infection could benefit from a prescription, you will be instructed to begin taking the medication right away.

Antibiotics attack the bacteria that is living in your body by killing it off and stalling further growth. Usually you will start to feel better within a day or two, but it is important to take the entire prescription to prevent the infection from returning. Common infections that require antibiotics are outlined below.

Infections That Need Antibiotics

• UTI (urinary tract infection)
• Strep throat
• Ear or sinus infections
• Bacterial pneumonias

What’s the Deal With Antibiotic Resistance?

You have probably heard the term “antibiotic resistance” before, as it is a serious problem that is affecting the population every day. If there are any bacteria left over after your course of antibiotics, it develops resistance to your specific prescription. If this bacteria is passed to another person, the same antibiotic that worked on you will not work on the other person, making it harder and harder to treat the same infection.

This can happen when people misuse antibiotics by taking leftover medication from a friend, not finishing your entire prescription or taking them when you don’t need them. For example, if you have a viral infection, antibiotics do NOT work against it.

Responsible Use of Antibiotics

• Use them on bacterial infections only.
• Take only the right antibiotic for the infection you have.
• Only take antibiotics prescribed by a medical provider.
• Take the entire regimen, even when you feel better.

Antibiotics are a wonderful resource in the medical community, but only if they are used responsibly. If you are wondering if you need a prescription for a bacterial infection you have, come see us at AFC Urgent Care Cleveland!