Antibiotics Up Chance of Risky Infections

Oct. 13, 2006 <p> -- TAKING ANTIBIOTICS UPS CHANCE OF RISKY INFECTIONS Taking antibiotics increases the risk that you will contract an infection from antibiotic-resistant bacteria, new research shows. Studies presented this week at the Infectious Disease Society of America meeting in Toronto highlight the fact that antibiotics, while often necessary for treatment, are not without risks.

One study on people who had staph infections with antibiotic-resistant bacteria found they were more than 7 times as likely to have taken antibiotics in the previous 6 months as people who had staph infections that were not resistant to treatment.

Another study from the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention found that patients infected with C. difficile bacteria were 18 times as likely to have taken antibiotics recently. Researchers say that this underscores that antibiotics are serious medications that should not be taken unless absolutely necessary.

ARTHRITIS IN THE USA Arthritis is one of the most common chronic disorders in the US, affecting in 1 in 5 adults -- 46 million people, according to a new CDC report. 17 million people experience such difficulty with their arthritis that they are limited in their activities. Women and ethnic minorities are disproportionately affected. Researchers say that increasing physical activity, losing excess weight and taking education classes to help manage the arthritis are all effective ways at reducing pain and increasing mobility.