There was another report by AFP (Stockholm) that bacteria are becoming more and more resistant to antibiotics.  Just about everyone has heard of MRSA and VRE here in the US, but unfortunately the medical community continues to over prescribe antibiotics.  The public continues to request prescriptions from their physicians when they have colds or other viral infections which are not helped by antibiotics.  Viruses will run their course and, unless there is a secondary bacterial infection, antibiotics are not necessary.

I have a more than a couple of friends who run to their physician at the first sign of a sniffle or stuffy nose and invariably happily return with a ten day supply of antibiotics which ” cures ” their affliction.  Of course the cold would have been gone in seven or so days anyway.

There have been some recent studies which implicated the overuse of antibiotics to an increased risk of breast cancer.  Too much of anything can do some harm (some things a lot more than others.)

We need to take responsibility to cut down on the use of antibiotics and be sure we need them, before taking them.  Antibiotics will continue to work if not abused.