Skip to main content

Oregon State Flag An official website of the State of Oregon »

Oregon Health Authority

What can people do to help fight antibiotic resistance?

There are many avenues an individual might take here – advocacy and story-telling might be the most impactful thing someone can do by telling others and their representatives how important this issue is to them; if they have a personal story of antibiotic-related complications particularly from unnecessary antibiotics, tell it! Another way is to protect your and your family’s bodies from unnecessary antibiotics – don’t be afraid to ask your doctor if an antibiotic is really needed for their particular infection. The more patients that reverse the usual script and ask doctors if they really need the antibiotic (rather than request an antibiotic), it will be less likely that the average patient will receive an antibiotic that wasn’t needed.
-Christopher Pfeiffer, MD, MHS. Section Chief and Hospital Epidemiologist, VA Portland Health Care System, Medical Director of the Oregon’s “DROP-CRE” Network
Educate themselves about antibiotics used in agriculture. Antibiotics are used just to treat infections in agriculture but also to promote animal growth. But these antibiotics still promote the growth of antibiotic resistance in bacteria that can ultimately cause infections in humans. Consumer demand can impact and shape the practices of farming and agriculture practices.
- Jessina C McGregor, PhD, Professor, Oregon State University College of Pharmacy

As the adage says, an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure. I think that one of the easiest things we can do to fight antibiotic resistance is to practice effective infection prevention. Washing your hands is such a simple intervention that can have a big impact.
- Jeremy Tigh, PharmD, BCIDP, Antimicrobial Stewardship Pharmacist, Samaritan Health Services
Vaccines are a win-win-win—they prevent bacterial infections that may require antibiotics, reduce the likelihood of viral infections for which antibiotics could be inappropriately prescribed, and help slow the spread of illness in the community.
- Liz Breitenstein, PharmD, Antimicrobial Stewardship Pharmacist at Oregon Health Authority
Three biggest items - wash your hands, take antibiotics medications as prescribed, and healthcare professionals need to educate patients on the difference between viral and bacterial infections during care visits.
- Danielle Britt, PharmD, MA, Infectious Diseases Pharmacist, Salem Health Hospital