Viral infections simply need time to get better. Antibiotics will not help. Except in health care settings, antibacterial products are no better than ordinary soap for preventing infections. Hand washing for 15 seconds with ordinary soap and water will reduce the risk of most common infections and does not add to antibiotic resistance. When antibiotics are used too much, the bacteria figure out how to outsmart the antibiotic and stay alive.
Resistant bacteria develop because of overuse and misuse of antibiotics.
And the problem is getting worse. If bacteria keep outsmarting the antibiotics, we may run out of ways to kill infection-causing bacteria. Bacteria in your body can develop a specific resistance to a specific antibiotic. Use antibiotics only when your doctor prescribes them. Never ask for or take an antibiotic for a viral infection such as cold, cough, or flu.