Antmicrobial Safety

IF MY DOCTOR SUSPECTS THAT I AM AT RISK, WHAT TREATMENT MAY BE RECOMMENDED?

If your doctor considers that you are at risk of DVT:

• Antcoagulant (blood thinners) medicatons may be given through your vein, as an injecton, or as pills. • This will prevent further blood clots from forming. • Your pharmacist or nurse will review any foods or medicatons that you should avoid when taking these blood thinners. • For symptom relief, applying warm (not hot) compresses or heatng pad will promote circulaton and reduce pain. • If you are having pain, discuss with your doctor what medicatons you should take. Make sure to let your doctor know of any over-the-counter medicatons you are taking. (such as Tylenol, aspirin, or Motrin) • Elastc support stockings may be prescribed by your doctor to help increase the fow of blood from your legs. • Bed rest may be prescribed for a tme with legs elevated to reduce swelling.

ANTIBIOTIC SAFETY

Know when antbiotcs work

When you feel sick, you want to feel beter fast. But antbiotcs aren’t the answer for every illness

THE RISK

Bacteria become resistant

What’s the harm in taking antbiotcs anytme? Using antbiotcs when they are not needed causes some bacteria to become resistant to the antbiotc. These resistant bacteria are stronger and harder to kill. They can stay in your body and can cause severe illnesses that cannot be cured with antbiotcs. A cure for resistant bacteria may require stronger treatment – and possibly a stay in the hospital.

Antbiotcs aren’t always the answer

Most illnesses are caused by two kinds of germs: bacteria or viruses. Antbiotcs can cure bacterial infectons – not viral infectons.

Bacteria

Bacteria cause strep throat, some pneumonia and sinus infectons. Antbiotcs can work.

Viruses

Viruses cause the common cold, most coughs and the fu. Antbiotcs don’t work.

Using antbiotcs for a virus:

Will NOT cure the infecton; Will NOT help you feel beter; Will NOT keep others from catching your illness

PROTECT YOURSELF WITH THE BEST CARE

You should not use antbiotcs to treat the common cold or the fu. If antbiotcs are prescribed for you to treat a bacterial infecton – such as strep throat – be sure to take all of the medicine. Only using part of the prescripton means that only part of the infecton has been treated. Not fnishing the medicine can cause resistant bacteria to develop.