Antibiotics: Know When You Need Them

Hello November and hello to all the drippy noses, coughs, colds and things that try to take us down during the start of this Holiday season (aside from the sugar overwhelm). As you’re all aware by now, we all have “germs” and often that term is used in a negative light to refer to something that makes us sick (aka a pathogen.)

“Germs” is really a term that best describes viruses and bacteria in my opinion. When we think of bacteria this day and age, we all know that there are “good ones” that help to populate and promote our immunity and others that try to sabotage it. Conversely, when we talk about viruses, they for the most part are really, really good at making us sick. Did you know that most colds that we get this time of year are caused by a viral infection? The common cold can result from any one of more than 200 different viruses…yup more than 200 although, the rhinoviruses cause most colds.

In fact, the common cold leads to more healthcare provider visits and absences from school and work than any other illness each year. It is caused by any one of several viruses and is easily spread to others. As a PSA, colds are not caused by cold weather or getting wet…contrary to what your mother or Grandmother told you. Those will just make you uncomfortable and grumpy lol.

Now I’m willing to bet that if you’re reading this you’ve gone to see your Doctor before when you were under the weather or already knew you had a cold. I’m also willing to bet that the Doctor who saw you prescribed you an antibiotic to help with your symptoms. (I’m waving a giant red flag right now).

Now before you roll your eyes at me through your monitor, let’s get something straight: antibiotics are important drugs. Many antibiotics can successfully treat infections caused by bacteria (bacterial infections). Antibiotics can prevent the spread of disease. And antibiotics can reduce serious disease complications.

Antibiotics treat infections caused by bacteria (bacterial infections). Antibiotics do not treat infections caused by viruses (viral infections).

Here’s an important example: an antibiotic is the correct treatment for strep throat, which is caused by a bacteria. But it’s not the right treatment for most sore throats, which are caused by (you guessed it) viruses. Other common viral infections that aren’t helped by the use of antibiotics include: the flu (influenza), bronchitis, most coughs, some ear infections, some sinus infections, stomach flu, COVID-19, and whooping cough etc.

Now you might be sitting there and saying “well Doc, what’s the big deal if I did take an antibiotic for a viral condition?” Here’s the truth, when you take an antibiotic for a viral infection you:

1.      Won’t cure the infection. 

2.      Won’t keep other people from getting sick.

3.      Won’t help you or your child feel better.

4.      May cause needless and harmful side effects and or other infections: ex) yeast infections.

5.      Promotes antibiotic resistance.

The overuse and misuse of antibiotics are key factors leading to antibiotic resistance. Here’s a terrifying statistic to make my point: In 2019, 4.95 million people died from illnesses in which bacterial AMR (antimicrobial resistance) played a part. Of those, 1.27 million deaths were the direct result of AMR — meaning that drug-resistant infections killed more people than HIV/AIDS (864,000 deaths) or malaria (643,000 deaths).

Additionally, a study published in April this year shows that babies and toddlers who are given antibiotics might have a less vigorous immune response to childhood vaccinations. Not to mention in the short term, they are very much more likely to be prescribed concurrent antibiotics following the initial prescription when symptoms don’t clear up…it can become a very slippery slope.

Now that we have all of that depressing stuff out of the way, that “harmless” antibiotic isn’t always as harmless as we may think when it is used improperly.  This isn’t intended to make you feel badly about using them (past or present) but hopefully to serve as cautionary tale of when and if you need to take them the next time you find yourself or someone in your family sick…chances are you don’t.

If you’re looking to help add to your “healthy germ army” to fortify your immune system this Winter (especially if you just finished an antibiotic).  I strongly suggest a spore-based, broad-spectrum probiotic.  My favorite is “MegaSporeBiotic” and yes, you can order it through your Fullscript profile…I so got you!