Antibiotic Resistance: Understanding and Responding to an Emerging Crisis

Chapter 12. Avoiding Resistant Pathogens

Summary: Individuals can avoid resistant pathogens by avoiding situations in which they might catch a resistant form of disease from another person or animal. When in such situations, precautions are advised: mosquito netting for malaria, cooking for food-borne diseases, no sharing of personal items for MRSA, and barrier protection for sexually transmitted infections. Good hand hygiene is essential. The key is to be aware of risky situations. Another principle is to limit the emergence of resistant pathogen populations by minimizing antibiotic use. (Don’t use an antibacterial agent for a disease likely to be caused by a virus.) Self-medication is unwise with antibiotics: Physicians have more knowledge ...