Antibiotics and infections
Basically, the two bugs that cause infections are viruses and bacteria. In order to use antibiotics appropriately, it is important to know whether an infection is bacterial (which will respond to antibiotics) or viral (which will not.) And because antibiotics have been used so inappropriately over the years, we are now seeing the emergence of antibiotic resistant organisms, which are causing overwhelming infections and avoidable sickness and even death. While many physicians seek customer satisfaction by issuing antibiotics inappropriately, my particular orientation is to use the antibiotics appropriately and give you information that will help you understand why the antibiotics may or may not be indicated.
Typical viral infections include sinusitis, pharyngitis (sore throat), laryngitis, bronchitis, and the common cold. The more common bacterial infections include sinusitis, Strep throat or pharyngitis, pneumonia and bladder infections. Ninety five percent of all respiratory tract infections are viral.
The following analogy may help explain the difference between bacteria and viruses. If we considered a park as a destination, you could get to the park on either a bicycle or in an automobile. Likewise, if we considered symptoms as a destination, you could get those symptoms with either a viral or bacterial infection.
However, a souped-up bicycle does not become a car and a severe viral infection does not become a bacterial infection. But just as a bicycle may crash with a car, a viral infection may "crash" with a complicating bacterial infection. If I have told you that I think you have a viral infection and you're convalescing nicely and suddenly deteriorate, that may represent a complicating bacterial infection and it will be important for you to notify me of this change. Typical symptoms of a complicating bacterial infection include rapid deterioration, severe headache, new fever, shortness of breath, facial pain or the inability to keep liquid or food down. If you develop these symptoms, please call the office and let us know there has been a change in your status.
Also, typical viral infections may last two to four weeks before full recovery. So please don't be discouraged if you do not get over a cold or bronchitis with a few days!
Here are links to two very informative web sites that will amplify information that you will want to know about viruses, bacterial infections and proper antibiotic usage:
http://www.cdc.gov/drugresistance/community/
http://www.cdc.gov/ncidod/op/antibiotics.htm
And for the very inquisitive reader who would like more detailed information, please visit these resources: http://www.fda.gov/oc/opacom/hottopics/anti_resist.html
