So-called superbugs are on the rise, and as we've been told repeatedly, the overuse of antibiotics is largely to blame.
But now the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention is sounding a new warning about the antibiotic-resistant bacteria.
Carl Azuz has more.
It's a knee-jerk reaction for a lot of folks; you get sick, you go to the doctor and ask for an antibiotic.
But you don't always need one.
Doctors say it won't kill off a virus like the common cold, and overuse of antibiotics is blamed for the rise of what some call superbugs --
bacteria that are resistant to antibiotics, infections that are harder for medicines to kill.
The CDC says these things have gotten so bad, they're now officially considered a threat to human health.
Two million people in America get superbug infections every year.
At least 23,000 people die because current drugs can't cure them.
So, what can we do about it?
First and foremost, the CDC says to use antibiotics correctly.
As much as half the antibiotic used in the U.S. isn't necessary or called for.
These can be good, effective medicines.
They can kill harmful bacteria. They can also kill helpful bacteria.
And germs that are resistant to antibiotics may be left over to grow, according to the Missouri Department of Health.
So, make sure you work with your doctor to avoid overusing antibiotics, and closely follow directions on how, when and how long to take them.
Don't save some for the next time you're sick when your doctor tells you to use it all.
Washing your hands is a good thing, too.
One key to reducing infections is not to get them in the first place.