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Resistance

What is antibiotic resistance and why does it matter?

Antibiotic resistance is when bacteria evolve so that antibiotics no longer kill them, making infections harder or sometimes impossible to treat.

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Every time antibiotics are used, bacteria that happen to survive can multiply and pass on their resistance. Over time this means common drugs stop working, and infections that were once easy to cure can become serious or life-threatening.

Resistance is driven partly by using antibiotics when they are not needed (such as for viral illnesses), not taking them as prescribed, and heavy use in farming. It affects everyone, because resistant bacteria can spread from person to person.

You can help by only taking antibiotics when a clinician says you need them, taking them as directed, never sharing or using leftovers, and getting recommended vaccines to prevent infections in the first place. This is a global health concern recognized across the US, UK, Canada, and EU.

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