By John K. Lees, MD

As colds and flu season approaches, it's important to know how to protect yourself against antibioticresistant bacteria. Understanding how and when antibiotics should be taken is an essential step in preventing antibiotic resistance.

Most cases of common colds and flu, including runny nose, sore throat, cough, headache, body aches and fatigue, are caused by viruses and don't respond to antibiotics because they are viral and not bacterial infections -- and antibiotics only combat bacteria.

Question: What is antibiotic resistance, and why should I be concerned?

Answer: Viruses don't respond to antibiotics, but for years, many patients have insisted on using them to try to cure colds, flu and bronchitis. This has given rise to antibiotic-resistant bacteria, which mutate to outwit antibiotics that once were effective in curing most bacterial infections.

Question: What's the difference between bacteria and viruses, and how does a patient know when an illness is caused by a viral or bacterial infection?

Answer: Both are microorganisms, but viruses are much smaller, come in more varieties, can mutate more rapidly and are more widespread than bacteria. However, if symptoms persist beyond seven days' duration, the infection may be due to a bacterial source, and antibiotics could be appropriate in treating the condition.

Question: What kinds of infections are caused by viruses and should not be treated with antibiotics?

Answer: The most common viral infections are flu and colds, including runny nose, cough, sore throat and upper respiratory symptoms, which don't respond to the germ-killing properties of antibiotics.

Question: When should patients be seen by their physicians for antibiotic treatment?

Answer: Patients who have a persistent fever for more than 24 hours, chills or a rash associated with a fever should visit their doctors as soon as possible. Likewise, babies and small children with fevers should be seen by their pediatricians.

Question: Do patients need antibiotics when mucus from the nose changes to yellow or green?

Answer: Not necessarily -- medical experts say green mucus and even white pustules in the throat aren't necessarily signs of bacterial infections and won't always respond to antibiotics.

Question: What steps can patients take to relieve cold symptoms?

Answer: Here are some basic steps to relieve symptoms of colds and flu:

• Drink at least eight 8-ounce glasses of water or juice a day, preferably more.
• Avoid coffee, tea, caffeinated or carbonated drinks.
• Use vaporizers and cool mist humidifiers.
• During daytime, use a good expectorant cough syrup containing guaifenesin.
• At bedtime, take a dose of cough suppressant syrup to help you rest.