Patients with a viral infection, e.g. common cold, should not take antibiotics unless they have acquired a secondary bacterial infection such as a sinusitis . Prophylactic use of antibiotics should be strongly limited. Antibiotics are often empirically administered without identification of the disease causing-pathogens. To choose the right antibiotic treatment, a profound examination is advisable, including laboratory testing, when possible. This is extremely important in chronic and recurrent infections.
Patients ought to comply with the recommended regime, following prescribed dosage and duration.
Although symptoms may disappear within one to three days after initiation of antibiotic treatment, patients must complete the full course of medication. Otherwise, causative pathogens will remain at the site of infection, causing a recurrence of infection. Furthermore, bacterial survivors may even develop resistance. Patients should never save tablets for later use or take antibiotics prescribed for someone else. To reduce the spread of infections and resistance , it is crucial to strictly maintain the basic hygiene rules , especially in hospitals.