1
THE ANTIBIOTIC QUIZ
Which of the 4 statements below are true and which are false? Please
circle your answer and then read the information sheet. Change any of
your answers if you want to after reading the information sheet. Please
share your answers with the pharmacy student - they have further
information to share with you
A)
I can stop taking my antibiotics as soon as I start feeling better.
TRUE
B)
or
FALSE
I can save left-over antibiotics for the next time I get sick.
TRUE
D)
FALSE
Antibiotics will help cure colds and flu.
TRUE
C)
or
or
FALSE
Incorrect use of antibiotics can lead to the development of resistant
bacteria.
TRUE
or
FALSE
If you have any comments about this quiz, please contact:Dr. Carrie Maffeo, Pharm.D., BCPS, CDE
Office of Experiential Programs
School of Pharmacy, University of Colorado Health Sciences Center
Box C238, 4200 East Ninth Ave.
Denver, Colorado, 80262
Tel (303) 315-1317
Fax (303) 315-8983
E-mail: Carrie.Maffeo@uchsc.edu
2
THE ANTIBIOTIC QUIZ ANSWER/INFORMATION SHEET
A)
I can stop taking my antibiotics as soon as I start feeling better.
Answer:
B)
Antibiotics will help cure colds and flu.
Answer:
C)
False: colds and flu are caused by viruses. If you have
a virus, an antibiotic won’t make you feel better
because antibiotics don’t kill viruses.
I can save left-over antibiotics for the next time I get sick.
Answer:
D)
False: when an antibiotic is used to treat an infection,
the symptoms of the infection disappear before the
antibiotic kills all the bacteria causing the infection. If
the antibiotic is stopped before all the doses are taken,
there is a good chance that the symptoms will return.
False: Normally there will be no left-overs but your
doctor might have stopped or changed therapy leaving
you with some left-over. It is very important not to take
left-over antibiotics for a new illness because the
antibiotic may not be effective against the new illness.
Incorrect use of antibiotics can cause resistant bacteria to develop.
Answer:
True: billions of bacteria are needed to cause an
infection and some of these are harder to kill than
others with antibiotics. If antibiotics are used
incorrectly - if you stop taking an antibiotic as soon as
you feel better - it is the harder-to-kill bacteria that
survive and often become even harder to kill following
their sub-lethal exposure to the antibiotic.
3
DID YOU KNOW THAT?
Adults who have a sore throat without a significant fever are
highly unlikely to have a bacterial infection. Antibiotics will be
useless.
90% of cold and flu symptoms (runny nose, watery eyes, dry
cough, sore throat, chills, aches and pains) are caused by viruses.
Antibiotics are ineffective against viruses.
You should not expect your doctor to prescribe an antibiotic for
cold and flu symptoms. If your doctor decides your symptoms are
caused by a virus an antibiotic will not help and you might even
feel worse if the antibiotic causes side-effects.
A cold or flu virus usually lasts for up to 10 days.
You should see your doctor if you have a high persistent fever.
You should see your doctor if your symptoms suddenly worsen.
You should see your doctor if you have a thick, colored discharge
from your nose that lasts longer than 2 weeks.
You should see your doctor if you have a cough that gets worse
and lasts longer than 2 weeks.
You should see your doctor if you have sinus pain, an earache or a
toothache.
Children can get as many as 6 to 12 colds and flus a year.
Children should see a doctor if they appear very ill, suddenly get
worse, or if cold and flu symptoms last longer than 2 weeks.