Antibiotics are important medicines. They help fight infections that are caused by bacteria. Antibiotic resistance (when an antibiotic is no longer effective) is now a major cause of concern and these pages will provide a useful guide to the whole subject. .
The latest phase of the Government’s campaign to help people understand that antibiotics do not work in treating colds or other viral infections was re-launched on 18 November 2010 to coincide with European Antibiotic Awareness Day.
The campaign aims to reduce unnecessary requests to GPs to prescribe antibiotics and to tackle the increasing problem of antibiotic resistance.
Professor Brian Duerden, Inspector of Microbiology and Infection Control at the Department said: ‘Imprudent and misuse of antibiotics is one of the main factors driving both the increase in antibiotic resistance and the continued incidence of C. difficile infection in hospitals.
‘Unfortunately, misuse of antibiotics is not uncommon; for example, failing to review broad spectrum antibiotics when microbiology results are available and not including a stop date on antibiotic prescriptions.’
Get the right treatment for common illnesses such as colds and coughs without encouraging antibiotic resistance.
Overview of Antimicrobial Usage and Bacterial Resistance in Selected Human and Animal Pathogens in the UK: 2007 was published by Defra on 24th March 2010.
Antimicrobials, including antibiotics, are important in maintaining human and animal health but the development of antimicrobial resistance makes the treatment of diseases more difficult. This is the second report which brings together information on antimicrobial use and resistance from humans, animals and food in the UK into a single document to help inform discussion on antimicrobial resistance.
ARHAI was established in April 2007 to provide practical and scientific advice to the Government on strategies to minimise the incidence of healthcare associated infections and to maintain the effectiveness of antimicrobial agents in the treatment and prevention of microbial infections in man and animals.
