RI Health Launches Educational Campaign to Address Antibiotic Resistance
Monday, November 25, 2019
The Rhode Island Department of Health announced that it is launching a new educational campaign to address antibiotic resistance.
The campaign is being launched in the wake of a report issued by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) that shows the need for continued improvement in infection prevention and antibiotic prescribing practices across the country.
“When someone takes time out of their day to go to the doctor, they want to walk out with a prescription that is going to make them feel better. But antibiotics are not always the answer. In fact, they can sometimes make things even worse. By taking antibiotics when not appropriate, people put themselves at risk for serious side effects while also undermining our ability to use antibiotics as a life-saving tool for future generations,” said Director of Health Nicole Alexander-Scott.
GET THE LATEST BREAKING NEWS HERE -- SIGN UP FOR GOLOCAL FREE DAILY EBLASTAccording to the CDC, antibiotic-resistant bacteria and fungi cause more than 2.8 million infections and 35,000 deaths in the United States each year.
“Improving the way we prescribe and take antibiotics can help keep us healthy now, help fight antibiotic resistance, and ensure that life-saving antibiotics will be available for the future,” said Kerry LaPlante, Pharm.D., FCCP, a Professor at the University of Rhode Island’s College of Pharmacy.
The Campaign
RIDOH will be sending targeted educational materials to the top 10% of antibiotic prescribers in Rhode Island. RIDOH’s Antimicrobial Stewardship and Environmental Cleaning (AMSEC) Task Force is also continuing its partnership with CDC to educate all Rhode Islanders about how to Be Antibiotics Aware and encourage the proper use of antibiotics.
CDC and RIDOH encourage patients and families to:
- Get the facts about antibiotics. Antibiotics do not work on viruses, such as those that cause colds, flu, bronchitis, or runny noses, even if the mucus is thick, yellow, or green. When antibiotics aren’t needed, they won’t help you, and the side effects could still hurt you.
- Ask your doctor, nurse, or pharmacist about alternatives to antibiotics.
- While your body fights off a virus, pain relievers, fever reducers, saline nasal spray or drops, warm compresses, liquids, and rest can help you feel better.
- If you need antibiotics, take them exactly as prescribed. Talk with your doctor if you have any questions about your antibiotics.
- Talk with your doctor if you develop any side effects, especially severe diarrhea, since that could be a Clostridioides difficile (C. difficile or C. diff) infection, which needs to be treated.
- Do your best to stay healthy and keep others healthy by washing hands, covering coughs, staying home when sick, and getting recommended vaccines, such as the flu vaccine.
- Do not share prescription medications.
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