(HealthDay News) -- Antibiotic resistance occurs when bacteria mutate and make certain medications ineffective in preventing bacterial infections.

The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services offers these suggestions for preventing antibiotic-resistant infections:

• Talk to your doctor about whether you actually need an antibiotic to treat a particular illness.
• Don't take antibiotics when they are not helpful. For example, antibiotics will not treat infections caused by viruses, including the common cold and the flu.
• Always take antibiotics as prescribed by your doctor. Don't skip any dose, and don't stop taking them early, even if you feel better.
• Never "save" antibiotics to take later. Never re-use them for a different illness.
• Never take an antibiotic that was prescribed to another person.