Every year in the United States, at least 2.8 million people get an antibiotic-resistant infection — and another 35,000 people die. The crisis has been caused by a number of factors, including the increased use — and misuse — of antibiotics. The CDC believes that at least 30% of prescribed antibiotics in the United States are unnecessary. This is caused in large part by many health care providers being too liberal in doling out prescriptions. A whopping 41% of prescriptions for antibiotics, for example, are given to treat respiratory illnesses, despite the fact that many respiratory infections — common colds, bronchitis and the ilk — are caused by viruses, which can't be destroyed by antibiotics.In addition, many patients simply don't follow the treatment regimens their health care providers prescribe, or they ask for antibiotics when they don't need them. Further worsening the crisis, many people self-prescribe and take leftover prescriptions or antibiotics prescribed to family or friends. By taking antibiotics inappropriately or when they don't need them, people raise their risk of experiencing potentially dangerous side effects, including developing AR or AMR.