Antibiotic Awareness – do you know when to use antibiotics?
17.11.2008
Gloucestershire Primary Care Trust is following up the launch of its ‘Get the Right Treatment’ Service campaign by highlighting the important message about antibiotics.
Tuesday 18 November is European Antibiotics Awareness Day and the NHS in Gloucestershire is keen to use this day to highlight the importance of appropriate use of antibiotics.
Antibiotics are important medicines used to treat infections caused by bacteria. 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 often we use an antibiotic, the more likely it is that bacteria will become resistant to it.
Dr Tony Walsh, Chair of the PCT’s Professional Executive Committee and a GP in Tetbury said: “The vast majority of winter health conditions - all colds and most coughs and sore throats - are caused by viruses with symptoms which will last a short length of time. They cannot be treated with antibiotics so it is not beneficial for them to be prescribed.
“For short term conditions such as these, local people should get the advice they need from their local pharmacist or NHS Direct as explained in the Get the Right Treatment guide.”
The Get the Right Treatment guide is available from GP surgeries or pharmacies and online at www.glospct.nhs.uk
Laura Bucknell, Medicines Management Pharmacist for the PCT said: “By not using antibiotics unnecessarily, they are more likely to work when we need them. It is important that people understand their doctor will only prescribe them when they are needed and that people shouldn’t try to pressurise a GP into prescribing them an antibiotic if the GP does not feel it will be beneficial.”
Dr Philippa Moore, Director of Infection Prevention and Control and Consultant Medical Microbiologist for the PCT and 2gether NHS Foundation Trust said: “We are backing this awareness day because using your pharmacist or calling NHS Direct for advice on dealing with winter health conditions can help keep these infections away from GP surgeries and help control the spread of the infections. Washing your hands regularly can also help and should be encouraged as much as possible.”
If an antibiotic is prescribed, the advice is to complete the course to get rid of the bacteria completely. If the course isn’t completed, some bacteria may be left to develop resistance.
Gloucestershire Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust is also taking part in the awareness day with advice being made available to patients and visitors of Gloucestershire Royal and Cheltenham General hospitals.
Posters highlighting the awareness campaign will be sent to all GP surgeries.
