?

Antibiotics Aren’t Always 

the Answer

Most illnesses are caused by two kinds of 

germs: bacteria or viruses. Antibiotics can 

cure bacterial infections – not viral infections.

Bacteria cause strep throat, some pneumonia

and sinus infections. Antibiotics can work.

Viruses cause the common cold, most 

coughs and the flu. Antibiotics don’t work.

Using antibiotics for a virus:

•	 Will NOT cure the infection

•	 Will NOT help you feel better

•	 Will NOT keep others from catching

	 your illness

Protect Yourself

With the Best Care

You should not use antibiotics to treat the common cold or the flu.

If antibiotics are prescribed for you to treat 

a bacterial infection – such as strep throat – be 

sure to take all of the medicine. Only using 

part of the prescription means that only part of 

the infection has been treated. Not finishing 

the medicine can cause resistant bacteria to 

develop.

Talk to Your Healthcare 

Provider to Learn More

Commonly Asked 

Questions:

How Do I Know if I Have a 

Viral or Bacterial Infection?

Ask your healthcare provider and follow his or 

her advice on what to do about your illness.

Remember, colds are caused by viruses and 

should not be treated with antibiotics.

Won’t an Antibiotic Help Me Feel 

Better Quicker so That I Can Get 

Back to Work When I Get a Cold 

or the Flu?

No, antibiotics do nothing to help a viral 

illness. They will not help you feel better 

sooner. Ask your healthcare provider what 

other treatments are available to treat your 

symptoms.

If Mucus from the Nose 

Changes from Clear to Yellow or 

Green — Does This Mean 

I Need an Antibiotic?

No. Yellow or green mucus does not mean that 

you have a bacterial infection. It is normal for 

mucus to get thick and change color during a 

viral cold.

When you feel sick, you want

to feel better fast. But

antibiotics aren’t the answer

for every illness. This brochure can

help you know when antibiotics work –

and when they won’t. For more

information, talk to your healthcare

provider or visit www.cdc.gov/getsmart.

The Risk: 

Bacteria Become Resistant 

What’s the harm in taking antibiotics 

anytime? Using antibiotics when they are 

not needed causes some bacteria to become 

resistant to the antibiotic. 

These resistant bacteria are stronger and 

harder to kill. They can stay in your body and 

can cause severe illnesses that cannot be cured 

with antibiotics. A cure for resistant bacteria 

may require stronger treatment – and possibly 

a stay in the hospital.

To avoid the threat of antibiotic-resistant 

infections, the Centers for Disease Control 

and Prevention (CDC) recommends that 

you avoid taking unnecessary 

antibiotics. 
For more information, see the Centers for 

Disease Control and Prevention website at:

www.cdc.gov/getsmart or call 1-800-CDC-INFO

Cold or Flu.

Antibiotics Don’t 

Work for You.

GET SMART...

• Antibiotics are strong medicines,

but they don’t cure everything.

• When not used correctly, antibiotics 

can actually be harmful to your health.

• Antibiotics can cure most bacterial 

infections. Antibiotics cannot cure 

viral illnesses.

• Antibiotics kill bacteria – not viruses.

• When you are sick, antibiotics are 

not always the answer.

USE ANTIBIOTICS WISELY

Talk with your healthcare provider 

about the right medicines 

for your health.