Antibiotics may build resistance to drugs

BRISTOL, England, July 20 (UPI) -- A British study published this month shows using antibiotics may increase your chance of being resistant to drugs.

A study by University of Bristol scientists and published in the July issue of the Journal of Antimicrobial Chemotherapy shows patients taking antibiotics within the previous two months have twice the chance of carrying bacteria that will resist antibiotics.

General practice doctors in the United Kingdom prescribe 80 percent of all antibiotics, mostly for respiratory tract infection-related illness.

Scientists say more studies are needed but recommend doctors be more conservative in prescribing antibiotics.