cessarily increases your chances of becoming sick with an antibiotic-resistant bacterial infection," Martin said. "Antibiotic resistance is not just an issue for the sick person. It is a global health issue. Overuse of antibiotics promotes the development of drug-resistant germs that can spread from person to person."
She said there are steps individuals can take to reduce these risks, including
* Take the antibiotic exactly as prescribed. Don't skip doses and complete the entire course, even if you feel better.
* Only take antibiotics prescribed to you. Do not share or use leftover antibiotics.
* Discard any leftover antibiotics once the prescribed course is taken.
* Do not ask for antibiotics when your doctor says you don't need them.
"We all need to work together to ensure that antibiotics are used properly," Martin said. "Antibiotics are powerful drugs that can save lives. But they won't be effective against existing and new bacterial strains if we continue to misuse them."
Get a Flu Shot
The best protection against the flu is an influenza vaccination, also called a flu shot, she added. The flu shot contains three seasonal flu viruses that cause your body to build up antibodies capable of fighting off those strains. The viruses are inactivated or killed, so you can't get the flu from a flu shot, according to the CDC.
The best time to get your flu shot is now until December. The flu season generally runs from November through April, so that allows the protective antibodies to build up before flu activity is typically at its highest.
"We are having an early flu season this year, so I really encourage everyone to get a flu shot as soon as possible," Martin said. "Anyone over the age of 6 months should get a flu shot."
She said it's important to wash your hands frequently to avoid spreading germs and keep hand sanitizers in your home, car, and at work.
"Get kids in the habit of coughing and sneezing into a tissue instead of their hands," she added. "You should also consider putting together a cold and flu kit so you are ready when someone in the house gets sick."
Martin recommended including over-the-counter symptom relievers, cough syrup, throat lozenges, hand sanitizer, tissues, and soup.
"That way you have everything you need and you don't have to go to the store and spread your germs," she said. "Parents sometimes feel pressure to send their kids to school when they are sick or go to work themselves. But it's really best to stay home when you are sick. You need to rest so you can be at your best and you don't want to get other people sick."
For more information about the flu, visit www.cdc.gov/flu. To find out how to get a flu vaccination, call Washington Hospital's Health Connection hotline at (800) 963-7070. To learn about upcoming Washington Hospital classes and seminars that can help you stay healthy, visit www.whhs.com.