When bacteria are repeatedly exposed to the same antibiotics, after a while the antibiotics can't fight them anymore. Antibiotics kill many bacteria, but they don't usually kill all of them. The ones that are left after you finish taking the antibiotic are strong enough to resist the antibiotic in the future. Antibiotic resistance is becoming a common problem in many parts of the United States.

If you take antibiotics that can't fight the bacteria they are supposed to kill, your infection can last longer. Instead of getting better, your infection might get worse. You might have to make several visits to your doctor's office. You might have to take different medicines or go to a hospital for antibiotics given in your veins.

At the same time, your family members or other people you come into contact with may catch the resistant bacteria that you have. Then these people might also get infections that are hard to cure.

Every time you take antibiotics when you don't need them, you increase the chance that you will someday get an illness that is caused by resistant bacteria.

Antibiotics are OK for illnesses that are caused by bacteria. These illnesses include infections such as strep throat, urinary tract infections and ear infections. Antibiotics are not needed for--and won't work against--illnesses such as a cold, the flu (influenza) or mono (mononucleosis).

You should not ask your doctor to give you or your children antibiotics for a viral illness. Instead, ask your doctor what you can do to feel better while your body fights the infection.

Follow your doctor's directions carefully. Your doctor will tell you to take all of the antibiotic. Don't save some of the medicine for the next time you're sick.

To avoid infections, wash your hands with soap and water before you eat and after you use the bathroom. Regular hand washing will help keep you healthy and prevent the spread of bacteria and viruses.

Ask your doctor if you have all the vaccinations (shots) you need to protect yourself from illness.