[Superbug alert] Experts warn of antibiotic overuse on coronavirus cases

We’ve all watched the TV news… and we’ve all read the stories.

We’ve got a good sense of what we’re up against with COVID-19 and the coronavirus that causes it.

And so, we wait for the clinical trials being conducted around the world to come up with something to make all of this a little more manageable.

But while many docs are “in the dark” about how to treat the influx of patients showing up with symptoms… they’re trying whatever they can get their hands on.

For conventional medicine, that means one thing…

Antibiotics.

In a way, you can’t blame them. They don’t know what else to do. And no one is telling them NOT to dole out these overprescribed drugs to their patients.

But before this pandemic hit, we were STRUGGLING to beat back the drug resistance that research has linked to antibiotic overuse.

Let’s not forget how DANGEROUS those drug-resistant “superbugs” have become!

I’m talking about 2.8 million infections… and 35,000 deaths… in this country EVERY year, according to the CDC.

Here’s the latest you need to know.

Don’t invite the enemy in

I can’t believe I have to keep reiterating this one simple fact…

Antibiotics DON’T kill viruses.

And that means that an antibiotic won’t do a thing to DIRECTLY combat the novel coronavirus.

I’m sure that docs across the country KNOW this. They COULDN’T have forgotten.

But this new infection… one they WEREN’T prepared for… has UPENDED their practices.

And so, they’ve gone back to leaning on “old faithful”…

The good ol’ antibiotic drugs that they’ve NEVER had a hard time getting their hands on.

I’ll give them the benefit of the doubt. Hospital staff are likely trying to BEAT BACK secondary infections that CAN be caused by bacteria… and therefore CAN be killed by antibiotics.

Too many of these drugs, however, are being given to patients BEFORE the bacteria shows up… as a PREVENTATIVE measure.

And that’s just setting us up to WORSEN the impact of antibiotic resistance – which CDC Director Dr. Robert Renfield himself called “a significant enemy” just a few months ago.

Other agencies, like the Society for Healthcare Epidemiology of America, recommend against giving antibiotics to COVID-19 patients UNLESS bacteria are causing a co-infection.

But you and I know how many times all those so-called “official guidelines” have changed in the last couple of months.

Who can keep track??

Now, some experts say that whatever increase in antibiotics for COVID-19 patients is OFFSET by the reduction in antibiotics being given to OTHER patients.

And it’s true, many folks are staying home… not visiting their docs for “routine” illnesses… and even staying away from emergency rooms.

That’s a temporary change. Soon, Americans will be emerging from their homes again… getting their regular checkups and elective surgeries…

And once again LOADING UP on antibiotics.

Mark my words.

So, what can YOU do? After all, YOU’RE not a doc… nor are you a policy-maker or a government official. (Thank goodness for that!)

First and foremost, FIGHT the urge to tear into that Z-pack you’ve been saving for a rainy day… especially if you’re SYMPTOM-FREE.

There’s ZERO PROOF that antibiotics can protect you from getting infected with coronavirus… or “catching” COVID-19.

It’s NEVER a good time to self-prescribe ANY drug… especially not an antibiotic you may not need.

The science has linked even routine antibiotic use to gut issues… yeast overgrowth and fungal infections… nerve damage… and even weird mental problems.

The BEST protection you can ask for right now… besides keeping your distance… comes from natural immune-boosters like vitamins C and D.

Keep taking your probiotics. Get plenty of sleep. And stay safe and sane, my friend.

To not throwing the baby out with the bathwater,

Melissa Young