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APUA: Alliance for the Prudent Use of Antibiotics
http://www.apua.org
Questions & Answers
about Antibiotics and Resistance

About bacteria & antibiotics

  • What are bacteria?
  • Where do bacteria live?
  • What is an antibiotic?
  • How do antibiotics work?
  • How are antibiotics used?
  • How many antibiotics are there?

About antibiotic resistance

  • What is antibiotic resistance?
  • Why do bacteria become resistant to antibiotics?
  • How do bacteria become resistant?
  • How does antibiotic resistance spread?
  • Can bacteria lose their antibiotic resistance?

Antibiotic resistance: a societal problem

  • How can antibiotic resistance harm humans?
  • Why is antibiotic resistance a public health problem?
  • Why is antibiotic resistance an ecological problem?
  • Do people become resistant to antibiotics?
  • How serious is the problem of antibiotic resistance?

What can be done about antibiotic resistance?

  • What can I do?
  • Are antibacterial agents, such as antibacterial soaps, a solution?
  • Are antibiotics regulated?
  • Is there any international action on the antibiotic resistance issue?
  • Can the effectiveness of existing antibiotics be preserved?
  • Can new antibiotics be developed?
  • Can antibiotic resistance be overcome?

When and how to take antibiotics

  • When should you take antibiotics?
  • What is the proper dosage?
  • How safe are antibiotics?
  • How does a physician decide which antibiotic to prescribe?
  • What should women know before taking antibiotics?

Antibacterial agents

  • What is an antibacterial and how are antibacterials classified?
  • What are some common antibacterials?
  • How common are antibacterials in consumer products?
  • Are antibacterial agents regulated?
  • How beneficial are antibacterials?
  • Are antibacterial agents safe?
  • Do antibacterials create resistant bacteria?
  • Can the widespread use of antibacterial agents lead to more resistant bacteria?
  • Are there other concerns about the use of antibacterial agents?
  • Are there other effective cleaning methods to prevent disease spread?
  • When are antibacterials useful?

Bioterrorism & stockpiling antibiotics

  • Why does stockpiling antibiotics occur?
  • Are there disadvantages to stockpiling antibiotics?
  • Is there any safe way to stockpile antibiotics?
  • What is the appropriate antibiotic for anthrax now?
  • What is the danger in widespread misuse of ciprofloxacin before a terrorist event?
  • Are there consequences for an individual who takes Ciprofloxacin unnecessarily?
  • Whose responsibility is it to ensure the appropriate use of antibiotics?
  • How can a physician resist a patient's demand for an antibiotic?
  • Could the overuse of fluoroquinolones due to fear of bioterrorism really lead to resistance in bacteria?


 


DISCLAIMER: The Alliance for the Prudent Use of Antibiotics accepts no legal responsibility for the content of any posted information, nor for the violation of any copyright laws by any person contributing to this website. The mention of specific companies or of certain manufacturers' products does not imply that they are endorsed or recommended by APUA in preference to others of a similar nature that are not mentioned. The material provided by APUA is designed for educational purposes only and should not be used or taken to be offered as medical advice. APUA is not engaged in rendering medical services.