Antibiotics are proven to be effective to treat infections caused by bacteria. However the overuse of antibiotics can lead to antibiotic resistance, a growing problem in the United States and around the world.
Thus, the use of antibiotics needs to be administered carefully and appropriately to avoid resistance. As with all healthcare providers, skilled residence centers need to be vigilant about their use, or overuse, to combat this problem.
The Centers for Disease Control (CDC) urges you to ask skilled residences or assisted living centers about their policies on antibiotics. The CDC can help with suggested questions to ask in their article What to Ask Your Healthcare Provider about Antibiotics.
The CDC provides more information on skilled care & assisted living facilities and antibiotic stewardship.
See these PDFs for more information about antibiotics:
A Commitment to Our Patients about Antibiotics
Viruses or Bacteria. What made you sick?
Antibiotics: Too Much of a Good Thing Can Be Bad
