Nebraska health officials work to combat antibiotic-resistant infections

LINCOLN, Neb. (KLKN) – Antibiotic-resistant infections are responsible for 35,000 deaths a year nationwide, health officials say.

The Nebraska Department of Health and Human Services said it costs the U.S. billions of dollars a year to handle these infections, which is why Antibiotic Awareness Week is observed annually from Nov. 18 to 24.

Studies show that more than a quarter of antibiotic prescriptions are unnecessary, officials said.

And in fact, they may be counterproductive.

“The more antibiotics we use, the higher the chance of germs learning how to defeat antibiotics,” Dr. M. Salman Ashraf, medical director for health care-associated infections at DHHS said in a press release. “Don’t get me wrong, antibiotics save lives. It is the misuse of antibiotics that is the problem.”

He also warned that antibiotics are ineffective for treating viruses such as colds or flu.

Ashraf said and the general rule is to prescribe the right antibiotic for a specific condition at the right dose, for the right duration and at the right time.

In Nebraska, Nebraska Medicine and DHHS are working together to improve antibiotic prescribing.

The program is called the Nebraska Antimicrobial Stewardship Assessment and Promotion Program.

Those interested can connect with infectious disease experts in the program at its website.