Woonsocket Radio News Room

 

RIDOH Issues Reminder About Proper Use of Antibiotics

Reminder comes amid national education efforts during Antibiotic Awareness Week

 

As a part of on-going efforts to prevent the proliferation of antibiotic resistant bacteria, the Rhode Island Department of Health (RIDOH) is reminding Rhode Islanders about the importance of using antibiotics properly. People should only use antibiotics when it is necessary, and antibiotics should be used exactly as they are prescribed.

 

Antibiotics save lives, but any time antibiotics are used, they can cause side effects and can lead to antibiotic resistance. Antibiotic resistance is one of the most urgent public health threats in the U.S. today. Antibiotic resistance does not mean the body is becoming resistant to antibiotics; it means bacteria develop the ability to defeat the antibiotics designed to kill them. When bacteria become resistant, antibiotics cannot fight them, and the bacteria multiply. Some resistant bacteria can be hard or impossible to treat and can spread to other people.

 

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), more than 2.8 million antibiotic-resistant infections occur in the U.S. each year, and more than 35,000 people die as a result.

 

“When someone takes the time out of their day to go to the doctor, they want to walk out with a prescription that is going to make them feel better. But antibiotics are not always the answer,” said Interim Director of Health Utpala Bandy, MD, MPH. “In fact, they can sometimes make things even worse. By taking antibiotics when not appropriate, people put themselves at risk for serious side effects while also undermining our ability to use antibiotics as a life-saving tool for future generations.”

 

Public health officials throughout the country and worldwide are taking similar measures to educate the public this week, during Antibiotic Awareness Week November 18-24.

 

CDC and RIDOH encourage patients and families to:

 

  • Get the facts about antibiotics. Antibiotics do not work on viruses, such as those that cause COVID-19, RSV, colds, flu, bronchitis, or runny noses, even if the mucus is thick, yellow, or green.
  • Ask your doctor, nurse, or pharmacist about alternatives to antibiotics.
  • While your body fights off a virus, pain relievers, fever reducers, saline nasal spray or drops, warm compresses, liquids, and rest can help you feel better.
  • If you need antibiotics, take them exactly as prescribed. Talk with your doctor if you have any questions about your antibiotics.
  • Do your best to stay healthy and keep others healthy by washing hands, covering coughs, staying home when sick, and getting recommended vaccines, such as the flu vaccine.
  • Do not share prescription medications.

 

In addition to these action steps, talk with your healthcare provider if you develop any side effects from an antibiotic. Common side effects of antibiotics can include rash, dizziness, nausea, diarrhea, or yeast infections. It particularly important to talk to a healthcare provider if you experience severe diarrhea after taking an antibiotic. Severe diarrhea could be an indication of Clostridioides difficile (C. difficile or C. diff) infection, which needs to be treated. November is also C. Diff Awareness Month.

 

In addition to the impact on patient health, C. diff rates have a financial impact on hospitals under Medicare’s Healthcare-Acquired Condition (HAC) Reduction and Value-Based Purchasing Programs. To help reduce these healthcare-acquired infections, RIDOH’s Antimicrobial Stewardship and Environmental Cleaning Task Force has developed the CDI Playbook for Rhode Island healthcare providers and facilities.

 

More information and videos can be found at health.ri.gov/antibiotics and cdc.gov/antibiotic-use.

 

Political analysts say today's elections could have major implications for the 2026 midterms. In New York City's race for mayor, Democratic socialist Zohran Mamdani maintains his commanding lead in the polls over Independent Andrew Cuomo and Republican Curtis Sliwa. Governor's races are on the line in New Jersey and Virginia. Meanwhile, voters in California will decide whether to re-draw their congressional maps that will probably mean five more seats in Congress for Democrats        Former Vice President Dick Cheney has died at the age of 84. His family announced his passing today, saying he died due to complications of pneumonia and cardiac and vascular disease. Flags are flying at half staff at the White House today with former President George W. Bush calling Cheney "one of the finest public servants of his generation."        Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy says sections of the country's airspace may be closed if the government shutdown drags on. He warned there will be "mass chaos" including mass flight delays and cancellations if the shutdown continues into next week. Duffy said there aren't enough air traffic controllers to manage it all.        NOAA's Climate Prediction Center predicts fairly mild weather for November. Forecasters say snow is likely to begin to fall in the North, portions of the South could see some severe storms due to La Niña conditions. The precipitation outlook for November also highlights a higher confidence for a typical La Niña setup to take hold.        The NFL's trade deadline is set for this afternoon. Teams will be looking to make moves to either bolster their rosters for the playoff push or to trade away players as they look towards the future. In a blockbuster move, the New York Jets are reportedly trading star cornerback Sauce Gardner to the Indianapolis Colts for two first round picks.        Sydney Sweeney says the reaction to her American Eagles jeans ad was "surreal." The actress made her first comments about the controversy from earlier this year in an interview with GQ, calling the response a "surprise." The ad that featured a play on the words "great jeans" received some backlash who said it had racist undertones.       

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