Find Treatment at Southcoast Health Urgent Care Centers
Using the Right Tool: Virus or Bacteria?
What’s the cause of your illness? Often times, viruses are the cause of many illnesses such as the common cold. If your provider believes a virus is the cause, an antibiotic will not help you recover. Supportive care with fluid intake, cough drops, and over the counter products as directed by your health care provider may be the best therapy
Allergy or Side Effect
Your antibiotic allergies play a big role in how health care providers are able to select your treatment options when it is needed. True allergies can range from hives, throat closing, body rash, to anaphylaxis. Please be clear as to the nature of your allergy and when it happened so your health care team has the most accurate information to make the best choice. Side effects that are not allergies may include nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, itching, headache, etc. These are common side effects that are not considered allergies.
Antibiotic Risks and Complications
Antibiotics should be prescribed only when needed for bacterial infections, and only be taken for the condition for which it was prescribed. Use of antibiotics may lead to complications including Clostridioides difficile infection (infectious diarrhea) and the developing drug resistant bacteria. Your provider will choose the shortest duration needed to take care of your infection, longer duration is not necessarily better.
Antimicrobial Stewardship & Southcoast Health
Southcoast Health is the recipient of the Infectious Disease Society of America Center of Excellence award in Antimicrobial Stewardship. We are committed to excellence in optimizing your care.
Patient Focused Treatment Goals in MA & RI
When your doctor at Southcoast Health Urgent Care Center deems an antibiotic to be necessary, be sure to take the full course. This along with supportive care recommendations will best ensure that the infection clears and decrease the risk of developing drug-resistant bacteria.
Find an urgent care location in Dartmouth, Fairhaven, Fall River, Lakeville, Seekonk or Wareham, MA today to receive quick medical care close to home.
Southcoast Health provides urgent care for minor injuries and illness and patient focused treatment goals across southeastern Massachusetts and parts of Rhode Island.