9 HealthWatch Team Doctor Heather Huzsti is a child psychologist, as well as the coordinator of a study on sexually transmitted diseases in Oklahoma. After decades of over-prescribing antibiotics, bacteria such as gonorrhea have become resistant to them because they've been able to mutate or change in order to fight against the drug trying to kill them. When an antibiotic is prescribed, a few bacteria survive, becoming stronger and then infecting the next person. There are some things both doctors and patients can do to prevent the overuse of antibiotics. Many patients feel they haven't had an effective visit with their doctor unless they leave with a prescription, but it isn't always necessary.
Doctors can let some illnesses run their natural course, rather than prescribing an antibiotic.
Just as importantly, patients need to take ALL of the medication when it is prescribed, even if symptoms disappear before the medicine is gone.