a century ago infectious diseases such as pneumococcal pneumonia were leading causes of death bacterial meningitis and infections of the heart valves were almost always fatal the discovery of antibiotics starting with the discovery of penicillin by Alexander Fleming transformed medicine however his antibiotic use increased the bacteria fought back by developing mechanisms to resist antibiotics and survive as a result infections that had become relatively easy to treat required higher doses and use of newer and more expensive and potentially more toxic drugs a major cause of antibiotic resistance is overuse of these drugs there are many things that we can do as a society and in healthcare systems to reduce antibiotic resistance but there are also things that each one of us can do if you're prescribed an antibiotic follow your health care providers directions and complete treatment even if you're feeling better if you have questions or concerns about your antibiotic treatment ask your health care provider or pharmacist and take steps to prevent infections in the first place by taking care of your health get enough sleep avoid cigarette smoke if you drink drink in moderation talk with your provider about what immunizations you may need and wash your hands well and often by taking care of our health we can all help preserve the miracle of antibiotics