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NOTE: CDC is not a hospital or clinical facility; we do not see patients and are unable to diagnose your illness, provide treatment, prescribe medication, or refer you to specialists.
If you have a medical emergency, please see your healthcare provider or the nearest emergency room. If you are a healthcare provider, please contact your state epidemiologist or local health department.
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Check these common topics first |
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Frequently asked questions |
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Are antibacterial-containing products (soaps, household cleaners, etc.) better for preventing the spread of infection? Does their use add to the problem of resistance? |
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A. |
An essential part of preventing the spread of infection in the community and at home is proper hygiene. This includes hand-washing and cleaning shared items and surfaces. Antibacterial-containing products have not been proven to prevent the spread of infection better than products that do not contain antibacterial chemicals. Although a link between antibacterial chemicals used in personal cleaning products and bacterial resistance has been shown in in vitro studies, no human health consequence has been demonstrated. More studies examining resistance issues related to these products are needed.
The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) Nonprescription Drugs Advisory Committee voted unanimously on October 20, 2005 that there was a lack of evidence supporting the benefit of consumer products including handwashes, bodywashes, etc. containing antibacterial additives over similar products not containing antibacterial additives. |
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Suggested readings: |
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Weber JT, Hughes JM. Beyond Semmelweis: Moving Infection Control into the Community. Ann Intern Med. 2004;140:397-398. |
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Larson EL, Lin SX, Gomez-Pichardo C, Della-Latta P. Effect of antibacterial home cleaning and handwashing products on infectious disease symptoms: a randomized, double-blind trial. Ann Intern Med. 2004 Mar 2;140(5):321-9. |
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Can antibiotic resistance develop from acne medication? |
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Antibiotic use, appropriate or otherwise, contributes to the development of antibiotic resistance. This is true for acne medications that contain antibiotics. Short and long-term use of antibiotics for treatment or prevention of bacterial infections should be under the direction of a physician to ensure appropriate use and detection of resistance. |
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Do probiotics have a role in preventing or treating drug resistance or drug-resistant infections? |
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Probiotics are defined as microorganisms that when administered in sufficient quantities may improve health. There are a variety of probiotics that have been studied for various health benefits. Their role in preventing drug resistant infections in humans has not been established. CDC is currently monitoring research on probiotic use, but cannot make any recommendations at this time. |
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Help for student research projects |
The Get Smart: Know When Antibiotics Work campaign appreciates your interest in appropriate antibiotic use and antibiotic resistance. Although we cannot provide individualized help to students, we hope that the National Center for Infectious Diseases resources will help you find the information you need.
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Contact information for state and local health departments |
You may also want to contact local sources of health and disease information, such as a physician or healthcare provider, state or local health department, public or university libraries, or state and county medical associations.
Additionally, see our Partners page for a list of CDC-funded appropriate antibiotic use programs and their websites.
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Hotline information |
Call toll-free:
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1-800-311-3435 |
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Accessibility |
For assistance with alternative access to Web documents posted on the Get Smart: Know When Antibiotics Work website and to read a synopsis of federal Section 508 accessibility requirements, please visit the Department of Health and Human Services "Section 508 Web Alternate Format" page at http://www.cdc.gov/accessibility/alt508.html .
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Contact us |
If your questions or comments are not addressed on our website, you may e-mail.
You can also contact us by regular mail:
Get Smart: Know When Antibiotics Work
National Center for Immunization and Respiratory Diseases
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
1600 Clifton Road, NE
Mailstop C-23
Atlanta, GA 30333
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