The Florida Department of Health is asking patients and physicians to help stop the over-prescribing of antibiotics.
DOH officials say that's because the common cold, flu, and other viral illnesses can’t be treated with drugs, but many patients ask doctors for medicine to help them feel better. Especially at this time of year.
Generally, antibiotics don't work on viruses, because a virus has to run its course. Antibiotics are only useful against bacterial infections, but doctors often prescribe them for viruses to keep patients happy.State epidemiologist Carina Blackmore says prescribing too many antibiotics can cause bacterial infections to develop a resistance to them. Then, in situations where they're really necessary, antibiotics don't work.
"About 80 percent of the antibiotics that are prescribed for flu and the cold are prescribed unnecessarily", said Blackmore. "This is a very important season for us to again point out that antibiotics don’t work against viral infections."
Blackmore says the best way to get over a cold or flu is probably the oldest method out there: Get lots of rest and drink plenty of fluids.