The Marshfield researchers will test specimens for antibiotic resistance, track trends in antibiotic prescribing and measure the impact of the education campaign by analyzing the survey results. In particular, the project will target bacteria that are the main cause of ear infections in young children. The Wisconsin Division of Public Health will use its laboratory-based surveillance network to gather bacteria specimens for the study, develop the clinical practice guidelines for common respiratory infections and use its statewide publications to help communicate project information to the partners and other interested parties. Ultimately, through the work of this partnership, Wisconsin could become the national model for how to improve antibiotic prescribing and prevent antibiotic resistance. The State Medical Society of Wisconsin, established in 1841, is the first and largest physician and patient advocacy association in the state, representing 8,000 member physicians and their patients.
Most bacteria are helpful, but some harmful bacteria, called pathogens, can cause infections.
Common bacterial infections include strep throat, urinary tract infections, and middle ear infections. Antibiotics are medicines used to treat and prevent bacterial diseases. Antibiotic medicines include penicillin, amoxicillin and erythromycin, among others. Antibiotics can often cure bacterial infections, but they never cure viral infections. Antibiotic resistance develops when bacteria mutate, or change their chemical structure, so they are no longer susceptible to a certain type of antibiotic.