Overuse of Antibiotics Causes Urgent Health Concern

A new report by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) warns that drug resistant super bugs have become an urgent public health concern. . . .

The report says that at least two million Americans become ill from antibiotic resistant bacteria every year. An alarming 23,000 or more of them die from the infection each year.

The  most important cause, according to the CDC, is the overuse of antibiotics in humans and farm animals. The CDC report says that “up to 50% of all antiobiotics prescribed for people are not needed or not optimally effective as prescribed”.

Antibiotic Resistance Threats in the United States. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 2013.