You can’t solve everything by asking your family doctor to prescribe you some fancy pills. Some things like influenza and other viruses you just have to take a Panadol and persevere. MHSA is here to tell you how taking antibiotics when you don’t need is super harmful.
Antibiotics are a class of medication which are given to patients in order to help them combat a bacterial infection. There are two types of antibiotics, one which stops the growth of bacteria and therefore gives chance for the immune system to overcome the infection on its own and the other type kills the bacteria. Influenza and colds are caused by viruses and therefore the administration of antibiotics will not have an effect on the course of the infection.
The wide misuse of antibiotics has resulted in an ever increasing presence of antibiotic resistant bacteria. This in-turn results in different antibiotics needed to treat the infection which usually are more expensive and also tend to have worse side effects. As antibiotic resistance is becoming more common, researchers are pressured into finding new antibiotics which takes time and money in order to be introduced into the healthcare system.
Even if new antibiotics are being researched, the main threat to an ever-increasing antibiotics resistance is the mentality and usage of antibiotics. If antibiotic resistance is not controlled, common infections and minor injuries which were easily treatable by the current panel of antibiotics will no longer be effective and can potentially lead to death. In order to slow down this resistance it is necessary that we change our behaviour such as taking vaccination, proper hand hygiene, practice safer sex and good food hygiene.
Safe ways for how to actually approach antibiotics while preventing resistance.
- Take antibiotics only when prescribed to you by a doctor.
- Do not share or use leftover antibiotics.
- Always finish the antibiotic course by following your doctor advice.
- Do not ask for your doctor to prescribe you antibiotics when they are not needed.
