A growing number of illnesses are resisting antibiotic treatment, and antibiotic overuse is to blame.
Estimates reveal that one third of the antibiotics prescribed by physicians are unnecessary.
Over the next four months, Health Alliance Medical Plans, PersonalCare and Abbott Laboratories will attack this public health emergency head on through an educational campaign to parents and guardians in the Champaign-Urbana area. By partnering with a fellow managed care organization and the drug industry, we can target more individuals and promote our message more effectively. The community-wide program will enlist the assistance of local physicians and pharmacies to inform the public about the proper course of treatment for bacterial and viral infections. In viral infections, antibiotic treatment is not necessary. Bacteria have an extensive range of tactics to combat antibiotics and can pass this information on to other bacteria.