About 35 percent of strep strains are resistant to penicillin-type drugs, and the percentage continues to climb. Mark Garrison, associate professor of pharmacy at WSU Spokane, is conducting research aimed at identifying new antibiotics to combat these resistant organisms. Antibiotic resistance occurs when an infectious bacteria is not killed by the antibiotics taken to destroy it. Resistance becomes a factor if antibiotics are taken when they are not needed. The Center for Disease Control and Prevention estimates half of the 100 million prescribed antibiotics each year are uncalled for.
Antibiotics are useless in fighting viral infections such as a cold, cough or flu.
Call your health care provider and make sure the prescribed medicine is an accurate fit for your ailment. This page has been accessed times.