Does your child
need an
antibiotic
for a
skin infection?
Antibiotics may NOT be needed for a
skin infection, even if your doctor thinks
your child has a Methicillin-resistant
Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) skin
infection.
Most of the time, incising and draining a
abscess or boil is the only treatment
needed.
If your child has other conditions such
as diabetes mellitus or cancer or if the
wound is not healing, antibiotics may be
needed.
Prevent antibiotic
resistance
Take antibiotics
only when you
need them!
Giving antibiotics when
your child does not
have a skin infection
will not prevent a skin
infection.
Skin infections may look
like spider bites, blisters,
cuts filled with whitishyellow fluid (pus), or
painful bumps under the
skin (boils, abscesses).
Revised November 2011
Does your
child
really need
an antibiotic
for a
skin infection?
What’s wrong with
giving your child antibiotics
What can you do to
What can you do to
that are not needed?
prevent
prevent
antibiotic resistance?
skin infections?
Your child may develop resistance to the
antibiotic. This means that it may be
harder to find an antibiotic that works
when it is really needed to kill an
infection.
Overuse of antibiotics creates stronger
germs. Stronger germs are harder to kill.
This can mean longer and more
expensive treatment.
Antibiotic resistant infections are
increasing. “New” antibiotics are not
being developed fast enough to keep up
with antibiotic resistance.
Give your child antibiotics only when
they are prescribed by a medical
provider
Do NOT try to persuade your child’s
medical provider to give you antibiotics
when the provider says they are not
needed.
If an antibiotic is prescribed for your
child:
 Be sure your child takes the right
amount of antibiotic at the right
time each day.
 Talk with the medical provider if
you think the antibiotics are making
your child feel sick. Do NOT stop
the antibiotic. There may be things
you can do to make them easier to
take.
 Talk with the medical provider if
your child is taking antibiotics and
not getting better after 3 days of
treatment. Your child may need a
different antibiotic.
 Don’t share your child’s antibiotic
with someone else.
 Don’t save some of the antibiotic
for the next time your child is ill.
 Give your child all the antibiotics.
The last few pills kill the toughest
germs!
Hand washing is the most important
way to prevent infections!
Ask everyone to wash their hands with
soap and water:
When they are dirty
After using the bathroom
After sneezing, coughing, or using
tissues
Before and after serving or making
food
Before and after eating
Before feeding a baby
Before and after changing a diaper
After touching dirty laundry
After touching the garbage or trash
After taking off disposable gloves
After touching animals or animal
waste