How to Use Antibiotics Safely

Modified March 18, 2026

First used to treat infections in the 1940s, antibiotics have revolutionized modern medicine and saved millions of lives. Antibiotics should always be used when they are needed to treat infectious disease. But according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), research shows that antibiotics are prescribed when they’re not needed or are misused as much as 50 percent of the time.

The inappropriate use of antibiotics leads to antibiotic resistance, which occurs when bacteria are able to survive after exposure to antibiotics, making infections harder to treat.

Here’s how antibiotic resistance works:

• Germs in your body — some of which are antibiotic-resistant — make you sick. You take an antibiotic prescribed by your doctor.
• The antibiotic kills the bacteria causing your illness — but also the helpful bacteria in your body that protects you from infection.
• Without the good bacteria, the antibiotic-resistant bacteria in your body grow and multiply.
• Some bacteria pass their drug resistance on to other bacteria, which can lead to more health problems.

The CDC calls antibiotic resistance “one of the world’s most pressing public health problems.” And it’s especially a problem for children, because they have the highest rates of antibiotic use.

Doctors are taking steps to curb antibiotic resistance by vowing to use antibiotics responsibly. Antibiotic stewardship is a commitment by doctors and other health professionals to:

• Use and prescribe antibiotics only when they are necessary to treat or prevent disease;
• Choose the right antibiotics; and
• Administer antibiotics correctly in every case.

But what can you do as a patient or a parent? Here are some ways you can protect yourself or your child by using antibiotics appropriately.

Prevent Antibiotic Overuse

Only use antibiotics when they are absolutely necessary to treat bacterial infections.

Understand the difference between bacteria and viruses. Antibiotics cure bacterial infections, not viral infections. Some examples of viral infections are:

• Common colds and runny noses
• Flu
• Most coughs and bronchitis
• Sore throats not caused by strep
• Most sinus infections

Your body’s immune system is capable of fighting infectious bacteria, but medication can help your body be more effective by killing the infectious bacteria or slowing its growth. Therefore, your clinician will only prescribe antibiotics when you have a bacterial infection that they feel you can’t naturally ward off on your own. Remember: antibiotics can only fight bacteria. They are not effective in treating viral infections, so you should always consult a medical professional for testing to determine whether your infection is bacterial or viral to rule out antibiotic treatment when it is not required.

Prevent Improper Antibiotic Use

Know how to effectively use antibiotics.

• Take the antibiotic for the entire time period it was prescribed. Do not stop taking the medication if you start to feel better. Although it may ease your symptoms, the antibiotic is only effective if you take it for its entire course.
• Follow the written instructions on the label. Take note of any warning labels, side effects or recommendations. Some antibiotics will need to be taken with food or plenty or water.
• If you forget to take a dose, take it immediately and then continue with your regular schedule. Do not double up doses.
• Drink extra water throughout the entire course of antibiotics. This will flush out your system and aid in the proper function of the medication.

Remember: it’s important to get a proper assessment by visiting a clinician. Even if antibiotics might not be the best medicine, a treatment plan can be developed to ease symptoms and promote healing. CareSpot centers include on-site labs where many tests can be performed to determine the proper diagnosis. This “one-stop-shop approach” helps save time so that patients can be on the path to recovery more quickly. Find a CareSpot location near you and get the healthcare you need.