I pledge to assess my patients to determine if they have a viral or a bacterial infection.
I pledge not to prescribe antibiotics for viral infections.
I pledge not to prescribe antibiotics for illnesses where there is no proven benefit, such as acute bronchitis or asymptomatic bacteriuria.
When I need to prescribe antibiotics, I pledge to identify a diagnosis and determine the recommended empiric therapy, dose, and length of treatment, based on guidelines such as those in the Bugs and Drugs guide (www.bugsanddrugs.org).
I pledge to educate my patients not to share antibiotics with other people as this would risk side effects and promote resistance.
I pledge to work with my doctor to determine if my illness may be viral or bacterial and if it is bacterial, whether antibiotics are needed.
I pledge not to ask for antibiotics for colds or the flu as antibiotics don’t work against cold or flu viruses.
I pledge to ask my doctor or pharmacist for advice on symptom relief for infections that do not need antibiotics.
When they are prescribed, I pledge to take antibiotics as directed by my doctor and not to share them with other people as this would risk side effects and promote resistance.
