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Doctors, chemists and pharmacists have long been wary of the indiscriminate use of antibiotics.
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The way the unused portions are disposed of is of world significance.
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It is perhaps the most daunting environmental hazard, but when have environmentalists ever mentioned it?
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Anyone who flushes unused or outdated prescriptions down the toilet or throws them in the trash contributes to the problem.
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Antibiotics that get loose in the ground water or sanitation systems become part of the ecosystem.
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And germs that come in contact with them can do what comes natural: develop resistance to them.
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How many times have you known someone who knows he has a virus, demand antibiotics from his doctor?
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Antibiotics don't have any effect on viruses. They only work on bacteria.
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But how many doctors cave in and prescribe antibiotics to a patient who adamantly demands them?
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