Use antibiotics wisely! European Antibiotic Awareness Day
Posted 18th November 2014
Today is European Antibiotic Awareness Day, highlighting the importance of only using antibiotics when appropriate so we can reduce the risk of these vital drugs losing their effectiveness.
Public Health England have produced this video which encapsulates why we need to use antibiotics more appropriately. There is also some useful ifnormation for patients and the public here.
The background to why this is so important:
Antibiotics are essential medicines for treating bacterial infections in both humans and animals but:
- Antibiotics are losing their effectiveness at an increasing rate
- Bacteria can adapt and find ways to survive the effects of an antibiotic. They become ‘antibiotic resistant’, so that the antibiotic no longer works. The more you use an antibiotic, the more bacteria become resistant to it
- Antibiotics should be taken as prescribed, never save for later or shared with others; it is important to use antibiotics in the right way, the right drug, at the right dose, at the right time for the right duration. Appropriate use of antibiotics will slow down the development of antibiotic resistance
- There are very few new antibiotics in the development pipeline, which is why it is important we use our existing antibiotics wisely and make sure these life-saving medicines continue to stay effective for ourselves and future generations
- Many antibiotics are prescribed and used for mild infections when they don’t need to be. All colds and most coughs, sinusitis, otitis media (earache) and sore throats often get better without antibiotics
- Community pharmacists are well placed to help provide advice on over the counter medicines to treat symptoms
- Individuals (the public, healthcare professionals and leaders) can take action by choosing a pledge and becoming an Antibiotic Guardian
- (www.antibioticguardian.com)
