Patients should be counseled that antibacterial drugs including Keflex should only be used to treat bacterial infections. They do not treat viral infections (e.g., the common cold). When Keflex is prescribed to treat a bacterial infection, patients should be told that although it is common to feel better early in the course of therapy, the medication should be taken exactly as directed. Skipping doses or not completing the full course of therapy may (1) decrease the effectiveness of the immediate treatment and (2) increase the likelihood that bacteria will develop resistance and will not be treatable by Keflex or other antibacterial drugs in the future.

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