Antibiotics work how long

Those studies are summarized in the table below. Antibiotics can be life-saving drugs, but there are good reasons not to take the powerful germ killers longer than you have to. Healthcare providers have traditionally prescribed longer courses of antibiotics to be extra sure to wipe out all the disease-causing germs. But as scientific understanding has evolved, it's become clear that the drugs affect not only the bacteria that caused the infection, but also the complex ecosystem of trillions of other bacteria inhabiting the human body.

And you can also pass those resistant bacteria along to the people around you. Of course, undertreating an infection also has consequences as surviving bacteria can multiply and make you even sicker than you were to begin with. Some serious infections such as tuberculosis and those affecting the bones, heart valves, or bloodstream require long courses of medication.

Just don't hang on to leftover antibiotics. Discard unused medication by returning it to the pharmacy or a community take-back program. Or mix the medication with an unpalatable substance such as kitty litter or coffee grounds, seal it in a bag, and throw it out with the household trash.

Read more about safe ways to dispose of antibiotics and other unwanted medicines. Editor's Note: These materials are made possible by a grant from the state Attorney General Consumer and Prescriber Education Grant Program, which is funded by the multi-state settlement of consumer-fraud claims regarding the marketing of the prescription drug Neurontin gabapentin. Teresa Carr is an award-winning journalist with a background in both science and writing, which makes her curious about how the world works and eager to tell you about it.

She is a former Consumer Reports editor and Knight Science Journalism Fellow at MIT and has more than two decades' experience reporting on science, health, and consumer issues. Sign In. Other antibiotics are at least partially made through a natural but controlled process.

This process is often enhanced with certain chemical reactions that can alter the original substance to create a different medication. Antibiotics are powerful medications that work very well for certain types of illnesses. However, some antibiotics are now less useful than they once were due to an increase in antibiotic resistance. Antibiotic resistance occurs when bacteria can no longer be controlled or killed by certain antibiotics. In some cases, this can mean there are no effective treatments for certain conditions.

Each year, 2 million people are infected with bacteria that are resistant to antibiotics, resulting in at least 23, deaths. When you take an antibiotic, the sensitive bacteria are eliminated.

The bacteria that survive during antibiotic treatment are often resistant to that antibiotic. These bacteria often have unique characteristics that prevent antibiotics from working on them. The overgrowth of this type of bacteria causes infection in both your small and large intestines. These bacteria often infect your bloodstream, urinary tract, or surgical wounds.

This infection typically occurs in people who are hospitalized. Enterococci infections may be treated with the antibiotic vancomycin, but VRE is resistant to this treatment. This type of infection is resistant to traditional staph infection antibiotics.

MRSA infections typically occur on your skin. This class of bacteria are resistant to a lot of other antibiotics. CRE infections typically occur in people in hospitals and who are on a mechanical ventilator or have indwelling catheters. The most important cause of antibiotic resistance is inappropriate use or overuse of antibiotics. As much as 30 percent of antibiotic use is thought to be unnecessary. Antibiotics are used for treating infections caused by bacteria.

Your healthcare provider will evaluate your symptoms and conduct a physical exam to determine the cause of your infection. In some cases, they may request a blood or urine test to confirm the cause of infection. Most antibiotics have similar side effects.

Perhaps the most common side effect is gastrointestinal GI upset, including:. In some cases, these side effects can be reduced if you take the antibiotic with food.

However, some antibiotics must be taken on an empty stomach. Ask your doctor or pharmacist about the best way to take your antibiotic. GI upset usually goes away after you stop treatment. Also, call your doctor if you develop:. Antibiotics are most effective when used appropriately. This starts with ensuring that you really need the antibiotic. Ask your doctor or pharmacist for tips on how to feel better while your body fights off an infection.

Skip directly to site content Skip directly to page options Skip directly to A-Z link. Antibiotic Prescribing and Use. Section Navigation. Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Syndicate. Minus Related Pages. On This Page. Take antibiotics ONLY if you need them. Take antibiotics exactly as prescribed if you need them. Talk with your doctor if Stay healthy and keep others healthy.