In today’s time, if you come down with a UTI or a case of strep throat, all it takes is a quick visit to a clinic to get a prescription for a round of antibiotics and you feel better in a few days. But back before antibiotics were invented, your risk of death due to an infection was high! In fact, 30% of all recorded deaths before antibiotics were developed were due to a bacterial infection.

Thank you, modern medicine! Antibiotics are such a staple in the medical world now that we rely on them for most simple infection treatment.

If you want to dive deeper into antibiotics and their uses, our staff at AFC Urgent Care Bronx Webster Ave. gives us all the details below.

How Do Antibiotics Know What to Do?

You are typically given antibiotics to help clear a bacterial infection. Once prescribed, you are encouraged to start them as soon as possible. A typical round is seven to 14 days, and they go to work at once when you begin taking them.

Antibiotics were developed to recognize and attack bacteria, so when it comes into contact with bacteria, it kills it or slowly stalls its growth. Antibiotics are very effective and you usually start to feel better within a couple of days, but you still need to finish the entire prescription.

Antibiotic Uses

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

What Can I Do to Help With Antibiotic Resistance?

Antibiotic resistance can be very scary to think about! When a certain bacteria develops a resistance to the very antibiotic that was designed to combat it, it can even grow and multiply into a stronger strain of bacteria. Over time, antibiotics become ineffective in defeating that particular infection.

The best way to help prevent this problem is to only use antibiotics when necessary and to only take antibiotics that were prescribed to you for your own personal infection. Sharing prescriptions is never OK.

The Most Effective Ways to Use Antibiotics

• Obtain a prescription by a medical doctor for YOUR infection.
• Do not take any antibiotics that were not specifically for you.
• Take your entire dosage, even if you feel fine after a couple of days.

Antibiotics are a great tool when used appropriately! If you think you need a prescription for an infection you have, come see us at AFC Urgent Care Bronx Webster Avenue.