New results of several studies show that patients who received antibiotics for respiratory or urinary infections had more than twice the risk for developing bacterial resistance within the first couple of months compared to those who did not take antibiotics.
Their risk of becoming resistant to antibiotics declined over time, but was still elevated as long as a year after treatment. Multiple courses of antibiotics, and longer treatment times, also seems to raise risk.
PositiveTip: Discuss the benefits and risks of possible antibiotic prescriptions with your physician, and be sure to ask about alternatives such as rest, hydrotherapy, or just plain “tincture of time”.