Sam Finch said he is worried the medicine his Olin Health Center doctor gave him for bronchitis might make him more sick.

After trying to battle a sore throat, nasal congestion, coughing and infection in his left ear without medication, the telecommunication, information studies and media senior said he decided he needed to go to the doctor. He walked out of Olin on Wednesday afternoon with an antibiotic.

But in September, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention began a campaign warning Americans that misuse of antibiotics can cause harm.

Richard Besser, medical director of the center's campaign focused on educating about antibiotics, said antibiotic use is a source of confusion and is a major national problem.

Besser said in the 1990s, center officials noticed a significant increase in resistance among many bacteria that cause common infections. He said research into the problem revealed that the main cause was the overuse of antibiotics. More than 40 percent of antibiotic prescriptions in the country were inappropriate, Besser said, and more than half of Americans could not think of a downside to taking them.

"People view antibiotics as miracle drugs and they are for many infections," he said. "But chest colds, bronchitis, most sore throats, all colds and the flu are caused by viruses. Antibiotics just don't work."

Finch said the Olin physician diagnosed his ailment as a virus, but Besser said antibiotics are meant for bacterial ailments such as sinus infections, pneumonia and strep throat - not a virus.

"What am I supposed to do?" Finch said. "I can't wait it out; it affects my school work."

Olin Health Center officials declined to comment on the issue.

Besser said the best solution to a viral infection is to wait, and try to use over-the-counter drugs.

Besides a growth in bacterial immunity from misusing antibiotics, Besser said symptoms can be made worse when taking antibiotics with side effects, such as nausea, diarrhea and skin rash.

MSU professor of medicine Ved Gossain said doctors often feel pressured to prescribe something for patients who expect to be given a drug every time they come in, instead of testing their sicknesses.

"People don't want to wait," Gossain said. "It's an easy way out but not the best way. Maybe we should be more strong in saying 'Let's wait.'"

Besser said with college campuses being a breeding ground for infection, students should ask their doctor what they can do to feel better sooner rather than asking for an antibiotic.