For the first time, antibiotic resistance has caused a fall in life expectancy, according to the Office for National Statistics. The European Consumer Organisation predicts by 2050 in the UK-- antibiotics will be the next leading cause of death--not cancer.
Kelsey-Seybold's Dr. Christine Le said every year, two million Americans will have some kind of bacterial infection that is resistant to antibiotics.
“Each year, 23,000 Americans will actually die from bacterial infections that are resistant to antibiotics,” said Le.
She said every time you take antibiotics, it makes you more resistant to them.
“And, what I do tell patients is if we use antibiotics, when we don’t need to, the next time that you need it, it may not work for you,” said Le.
She said if you have the flu, antibiotics won't help because that is a virus, not bacterial infection. Most likely, you'll be prescribed antibiotics, after a fever that's over 100-degrees and lasting several days.
Back in 2010, ONS reported a baby girl born in 2016 could expect to live 83.7 years. It’s now been revised down to 82.9. Baby boys were expected to live to 79.2, instead of 79.9.