Medical professionals and researchers have anticipated this resistance for years, thanks to the over-use of antibiotics in their earliest development.

Antibiotics are used to attack bacterial infections, but not viral infections. One of the problems is many people developed the habit of taking them for contraindicated purposes. One classic example is taking an antibiotic for a sore throat caused by a virus. (Strep throat, however, is caused by bacteria and antibiotics are appropriate uses, however.)

Taking an antibiotic when it’s not necessary can be counter-productive because it may destroy beneficial bacteria. That helps promote resistance and is detrimental when antibiotic properties are needed to battle a bacterial infection.

Some examples of diseases where antibiotic use is not appropriate include the common cold, flu, bronchitis, sore throats, coughs, most ear infections, some sinus infections and stomach flu. Studies have reported that half of antibiotics prescribed for children were done so for upper respiratory infections caused by the common cold. That is a mistake -- colds are viral, and using antibiotics for upper respiratory illness can make children more susceptible to the antibiotic-resistant C.diff strain, which causes severe diarrhea and causes more than 14,000 deaths each year.

Researchers believe the C.diff phenomenon can be traced to antibiotic overuse, which kills helpful intestinal bacteria known as gut flora. These beneficial bacteria support immunity and help with general digestion. The use of antibiotics causes lasting changes that can open the door for C.diff.

In adults, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention found that more cases of untreatable, antibiotic-resistant gonorrhea are emerging. This condition can lead to pelvic inflammatory disease, tubal infertility, ectopic pregnancy and neonatal eye infections.