Antibiotic Awareness Week Gets Boost From the California Pharmacists Association.

Health/Medical Writers

SACRAMENTO, Calif.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Sept. 29, 2003

As the Flu Season Quickly Approaches Pharmacists Help Educate

Californians on the Proper Use of Antibiotics

The California Pharmacists Association in partnership with the Alliance Working for Antibiotic Resistance Education (AWARE) has ramped up its efforts to educate Californians on the proper use of antibiotics by enlisting pharmacists throughout California to speak to parents and local community groups as well as to distribute, through their pharmacies, more than 750,000 pieces of literature in both English and Spanish.

"It is imperative that all Californians understand how and when to use antibiotics, especially with the flu season quickly approaching," said Carlo Michelotti, R.Ph, MPH, chief executive officer of CPhA. "Many people think antibiotics are a cure all for viral infections such as a common cold or the flu but the reality is that the use of antibiotics for anything other than bacterial infections could have the opposite effect and be harmful to your health."

Understanding the proper use of antibiotics is crucial; more than 235 million doses of antibiotics are consumed annually and that up to 20-50 percent of the prescribed antibiotics are being used improperly, which according to Senator Bill Frist costs the United States more than $30 billion annually in extra days spent at the hospital, loss of productivity and in multiple drug regimens among others.

"Whether you have the flu or a simple common cold, antibiotics will not help you feel better any faster because both are caused by a virus," said Michael Negrete, PharmD, associate vice president of clinical affairs for CPhA. "Symptoms of a common cold usually include stuffy nose, sore throat, sneezing and coughing while symptoms of the flu usually include tiredness, fever, headache, major aches and pains and a bad cough. Symptoms of these conditions can be treated with certain over-the-counter medications. Talk to your pharmacist or physician and they will be able to determine which medications would be most suitable for your needs."

"The California Pharmacists Association has been instrumental in helping us educate consumers on the proper use of antibiotics," said Elissa Maas, director of community health for the CMA Foundation. "Pharmacists are on the front lines of defense and have the means of reaching a substantial number of people regarding proper and safe medication use."

Tips when using antibiotics:

-- Talk to your pharmacist and physician about using antibiotics

correctly

-- Antibiotics don't work for colds and flu

-- Don't stop taking the medicine when you start to feel better

-- Never share or take leftover antibiotics

Antibiotic Awareness Week is celebrated in California from September 29 through October 3, 2003. For more information regarding CPhA and AWARE, please visit www.cpha.com. AWARE is spearheaded by the California Medical Association Foundation and includes a coalition of healthcare organizations.

The mission of CPhA is to act as the leader in advocating the role of the pharmacist as an essential provider of health care and to support pharmacists in providing optimal pharmaceutical care.