Press Release

September 30, 2008

Four Corners Health Department

Contact:  Vicki Duey

Get Smart:  Know When Antibiotics Work

Antibiotics do not effectively treat viral infections, such as a cold or the flu.  Antibiotics only kill bacteria – this is a long documented medical fact.

“Most Americans have either missed this message about appropriate antibiotic use or they simple don’t believe it.  According to recent public opinion research, many people believe that antibiotics “cure everything”.  This perception is false” says Vicki Duey, Executive Director of Four Corners Health Department.

Taking antibiotics when they are not needed potentially does more harm than good.  Antibiotic treatment won’t fight viral infection, make the patient feel better, yield a quicker recovery or keep others from getting sick.  But inappropriate use will contribute to antibiotic resistance.

According to the Centers for Disease Control (CDC), antibiotic resistance is one of the world’s most pressing public health problems.  Over the last decade, almost every type of bacteria has become stronger and less responsive to antibiotic treatment when it really is needed.  These antibiotic resistant bacteria can quickly spread through communities, threatening public health with a new strain of infectious disease that is more difficult to cure and more expensive to treat.

The Nebraska Department of Health and Human Services and Four Corners Health Department are joining CDC”s effort to alert the public to the risks of inappropriate antibiotic use.  We urge Four Corners District resident to consult with their doctors and learn when antibiotic treatment is needed.  For more information, visit www.fourcorners.ne.gov or www.cdc.gov website.