This year, cases of resistance have been reported in California, Massachusetts, and Illinois, as well as in Canada and Britain.  All of which involve people who have recently received medical treatment in India, where the problem is extensive.

 

At this time it is not known how many deaths that the gene has caused because there has been no specific tracking of cases. 

 

However, according to the World Health Organization, antibiotic resistance is one of the three greatest threats to human health.  Therefore, it is essential that health care providers educate patients about the correct use of antibiotics and offer alternative solutions when they are not appropriate.

 

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s (CDC) “Get Smart: Know When Antibiotics Work” campaign materials can assist with this.  Patient brochures explaining the difference between bacteria and viruses, posters outlining proper antibiotic use, and a prescription pad that serves as a checklist of remedies for viral infections are all available in the Learning Resource Center.