A campaign has been launched to remind people that antibiotics are ineffective in the treatment of coughs and colds.
Launched yesterday (November 18) – on the annual European Antibiotic Awareness Day (EAAD) – the aim of the campaign is to emphasise the importance of taking antibiotics responsibly.
Professor Dame Sally Davies, the interim UK Chief Medical Officer, said: “As the season for coughs and colds approaches, the public are being reminded to ‘get well without antibiotics’ because these drugs do not cure most coughs, colds and sore throats.
"The aim of the campaign is to raise awareness of the risks in taking antibiotics for the wrong reasons, and to keep antibiotics effective for use in future generations."
The use of antibiotics gives bacteria the chance to develop resistance which threatens to make antibiotic treatments ineffective. This risk is increased by unnecessary antibiotic use and we need to preserve existing treatments for the future.
Professor Steve Field, chairman of the Royal College of General Practitioners, said: "Patients need to know that antibiotics are not always the answer and certainly in the case of coughs and colds they are of little use.
“It can be very difficult for a GP having a consultation with a patient who expects antibiotics. Many patients think that antibiotics reduce the effects of coughs and colds when in fact these infections will often get better anyway without their use. Plenty of rest and lots of fluids will often help patients fight these infections much more effectively."
Posters and leaflets are being distributed throughout the NHS, and non-prescription information pads are being made available for GPs to give to patients to explain why antibiotics are not appropriate for their condition.
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