Antibiotics are truly miracle drugs that have saved countless millions of lives. But antibiotic resistance is a critical public health issue that is eroding the effectiveness of antibiotics and may affect the health of each and every one of us. |
Most people lump viruses and bacteria together. Actually the two have little in common - viruses are more like robots. Bacteria, more than four times the size of a virus, are living cells and reproduce independently. Most bacteria are harmless to humans and many are, in fact, beneficial. |
Research tells us that most Americans don't understand that antibiotics kill bacteria, not viruses. People go to their doctor and request antibiotics for themselves or a sick child, when it is not the appropriate course of treatment. |