It’s that time of year again – falling temperatures, family gatherings, and the slow resurgence of the common cold.
The holiday season is officially here, bringing with it an increased risk for illness and infection. This is especially true for our senior population, whose immune systems naturally weaken with age – making it more difficult to stave off infectious disease.
For those aged 65+, the solution may sound like driving to the doctor and requesting an antibiotic. But antibiotics do not treat the flu or common colds – and overuse can lead to unintended side effects, such as antibiotic resistance and resistant bacteria. Simply put, the more antibiotics are overused, the more resistant bacteria become – making common infections that much more difficult to treat.
At Synchrony Pharmacy, our Antibiotic Stewardship Initiatives ensure that we only prescribe antibiotics when they’re truly needed – and that the right medications are used at the right dose for the appropriate duration. We conduct thorough clinical reviews of antibiotic orders and we carefully track antibiotic utilization.
In short, Antibiotic Stewardship isn’t about saying “no” to antibiotics – it’s about using antibiotics wisely. Through our commitment to safe, evidence-based care, we can help protect both the health of today’s seniors and the effectiveness of medications for years to come.
