FYI

Before I get too far into this post I want to start out by saying that I am by no means claiming to be a medical expert. I probably have the same amount of knowledge as you do, but I still feel this post a necessary evil; in case you or someone else doesn't know this.

MRSA is our doing. WE are to blame, not the hospitals and medical personnel. MRSA exists because of improper use of antibiotics.
1.If you don't follow your dosing instructions you are not killing your infection. 4 times per day actually means 4 times a day or every 6 hrs. There are 24 hrs in a day, not just the hours you happen to be awake. If you must, talk to your doctor about tailoring your dosing to a more convenient schedule.
2. If you don't finish your antibiotics, you are making your infection stronger; meaning next time you will need a stronger antibiotic because you've made the germ resistant to the first drug (hint Methicillin Resistant Staph Aureus or MRSA).
3. If you take antibiotics when you don't need them, then the itty bitty germ you have that your body can kill without antibiotics builds up a tolerance to said antibiotic, and then the next time you get it it's stronger and takes a stronger antibiotic to kill it.(as stated above!)
4. A virus will not go away with antibiotics. It is not killed that way. In fact once you've had a particular virus you won't get it again. Our bodies are so cool that they remember how they killed that virus, and when they sense it's presence the natural antiviral your body made to kill it the first time is still there.
5. Washing your hands is your first line of defense to keep from getting viruses. WASH your hands! You carry all the germs on your skin.
6. A fever can actually be a really good thing. Unless the fever is over 101.3 it does not need to be treated unless it is accompanied by severe vomiting and/or diarrhea, lethargy, a very young baby, or an elderly person. Also if the fever is persistent then it needs to be treated.
7. A small amount of bleeding is also a good thing. It's a natural way for your body to clean out a cut. Cool huh?

My reason for this post? I have had several patients in the last few days who believe it or not did not understand these concepts. This tells me that as health care workers we are not doing our job in educating the public. Clearly this is not common sense to everyone as it has so been assumed. Anyway, I will get off my soap box now! Thank you for your time!

Amy