I know that widespread use of antibiotics has a detremental effect on
the world as a whole due to the development of resistant strains.
Applying my basic science knowledge, I believe that the actual
*creation* of one of the strains inside you or me is verrrrry
unlikely, and the real lesson here is to the medical community
(prescribe less) and the food industry (stop indiscriminately feeding
it to animals). Me personally taking antibiotics is extremely unlikely
to affect this system at all, correct?

Also, are there any other disadvantages (other than possible
side-effects) to my taking antibiotics? Does a personal resistance
build up over time, making them less effective? If so, to what degree?

Hello,

Actually, you can individually help to ‘create’ a antibiotic resistant
strains of bacteria.

If you have a bacterial infection, you have a population of bacteria
living inside of you.  When you take an antibiotic you are killing as
many as you can.  However, if any bacteria is not killed by that
antibiotic, it is ‘selected’ for its resistance to that antibiotic. 
Essentially, the survivors of your antibacterial onslaught are the
‘fittest’ bacteria in your body.  If you don’t manage to kill those
fit individuals, you are in fact creating the start of a new
population of bacteria that is resistant to the antibiotic that you
used.  You can pass that bacteria on to others around you.  Thus
perpetuating the resistant bacteria.

This is why it is extremely important to take all of your prescribed
antibiotics.  The more of an attack on the bacterial population in
your body, the better the chance you will get them all, and not leave
ones that are stronger.

In one study discussed at the Staying Healthy Website
(http://www.sentara.com/community/resistance/default.htm), it was
shown that resistant bacteria are more likely to show up in the
throats and on the skin of individuals in households where one member
is taking antibiotics.  So you see, the bacteria that is exposed to
antibiotics within your body, can in fact, escape and infect others.

There is also evidence demonstrating that use of antibiotic cleaning
products are actually promoting the proliferation of resistant
bacterial populations.  You can help to stop the problem or you can
choose to perpetuate it by the choice of cleansers you use.  You can
read about this at the following web sites.

University of California: Agricultural and Natural Resources
http://ucce.ucdavis.edu/files/filelibrary/2019/2247.pdf)

Environmental News Network.
http://www.enn.com/enn-news-archive/2000/07/07302000/antibacterial_15116.asp


As for the second part of your question.  Yes, there can be other
disadvantages to taking antibiotics.  There are some beneficial
bacteria that live in your body.  Some help you to digest your food
and protect you from disease-causing bacteria.  Antibiotics will kill
them as well as the harmful ones.

You can become resistant to an antibiotic.  But, it is primarily
through the mechanisms described above.  I.e. the bacteria that are
growing inside you have become a resistant strain, and so the
antibacteria that you use no longer is effective against them.

Tufts scientists question safety of antibacterials
http://www.pub.umich.edu/daily/2000/sep/09-14-2000/news/11.html



The following web sites are excellent sources of information on the
topic of antibiotics and bacterial resistance.  You may find them to
be interesting reading.

Sentara
http://www.sentara.com/community/resistance/antibiotic_faq.htm

Germ warfare arrives in the home
http://www.greenbaypressgazette.com/news/archive/life_360545.shtml

Lecture 11: Evolution of tuberculosis
http://www.esb.utexas.edu/higgins/bio301m/lecture11.html


Keywords Used: 

antibacteria resistance 

://www.google.com/search?hl=en&ie=UTF-8&oe=UTF-8&q=antibacteria+resistance&btnG=Google+Search

http://search.dogpile.com/texis/search?geo=no&method=&top=1&brand=dogpile&q=%2Bantibacteria+lose+effectiveness&cat=web


antibacterial  "lose effectiveness"

://www.google.com/search?q=antibacterial++%22lose+effectiveness%22&hl=en&lr=&ie=UTF-8&oe=UTF-8&as_qdr=all&sa=n&oq=antibacteria++%22lose+effectiveness%22


I hope this helps.
pba

Thanks. I failed to take into account that a population of millions of
short-lived bacteria can significantly increase the speed of natural
selection. :)

Any individual taking antibiotics indiscriminately adds to the problem
of antibiotic resistance developing.