Hand Hygiene and Antibiotic Resistance

• Antibiotic resistance is a growing concern. Handwashing prevents the spread of germs.
  
  
• Antibiotics don’t cure viral infections like colds, flu, or bronchitis.
  But, hand washing stops the spread of germs.
  So, let your doctor decide when antibiotics are needed.
  

Keep antibiotics working!

• Every time a person takes antibiotics, sensitive bacteria are killed but resistant bacteria may be left to grow and multiply.
• Using antibiotics often and misusing them (not finishing all of a prescription) leads to antibiotic-resistant bacteria.
• Bacteria that develop ways to survive against antibiotics are called antibiotic-resistant bacteria; routine antibiotics will not kill them.
• Misusing antibiotics helps create antibiotic-resistant bacteria.
• Resistant bacteria are sometimes called “super bugs.”
• Infections caused by “super bugs” can be more severe and harder to treat.
• “Super bugs” can be dangerous to your family and to your community because they can be passed from person-to-person the same way that other bacteria are spread.
• Using antibiotics wisely is the best way to control resistance.
  

More about antibiotic resistance

• Antimicrobial Resistance
  Information about Antimicrobial Resistance in Minnesota. Includes information on antimicrobial-resistant Staphylococcus aureus, the compilation of antimicrobial susceptibilities of selected pathogens, and antimicrobial resistance in health care settings.