Organizations focus on antibiotic education

Each year, roughly 23,000 people die from infections caused by bacteria resistant to antibiotics, according to the Centers for Disease Control. Part of the issue stems from people over-relying on the medication.

This week, local health officials and departments are pairing up to spread the news that people should stop using antibiotics to kill viruses when the medication only kills bacteria.

The coalition includes the Flathead City-County Health Department, North Valley Hospital and Kalispell Regional Healthcare. The effort aligns with Get Smart About Antibiotics Week — an annual observance to raise awareness of antibiotic resistance and the importance of appropriate antibiotic prescription and use.

Jason Cohen, the chief medical officer at North Valley Hospital, said part of the issue is that people rely on antibiotics when they don’t need to. As a result, he said antibiotic resistance is outpacing antibiotic development.

“We have fewer weapons to fight the resistant bacteria, so using antibiotics, when they won’t help, can do more harm than good not only for yourself, but also your family and your community,” Cohen said.

Taking antibiotics when they’re not needed is fueling an increase in drug-resistant bacteria, which cause infections that are more difficult, and sometimes even impossible, to cure, according to the Centers for Disease Control.

Almost all types of bacteria have become less responsive to antibiotic treatment. These “superbugs” can quickly spread to family members, schoolmates and coworkers, and threaten our communities with illnesses that were once easily treatable.

Each year in the United States, at least 2 million people become infected with bacteria that are resistant to antibiotics, according to the Centers for Disease Control.

“When antibiotics are used for viral infections it will not fight the virus, help your child feel better, or lead to a quicker recovery. It may even be harmful,” according to a press release distributed by North Valley Hospital.

For more information about the appropriate use of antibiotics, check with your health care provider or visit www.cdc.gov/getsmart.