13 March 2009
Health experts at Epsom and St Helier hospitals are backing a national campaign to reduce the unnecessary use of antibiotics.
The 'Antibiotics Awareness Campaign' was launched to help people understand that antibiotics do not work in treating coughs, colds and sore throats and that taking antibiotics when they are not needed could lead to antibiotic resistance.
Antibiotic resistance means the drugs can no longer tackle the bacteria they are meant to fight. If you take them when you don't need them, you could be helping to make bacteria resistant to them.
Anne Davies, Chief Pharmacist for the Trust said: "Antibiotics don't work on colds, most coughs or sore throats or the flu. Using antibiotics when they're not necessary will increase resistance to them and make it difficult to treat serious bacterial infections in the future.
"If you are suffering with cold and flu symptoms or a sore throat you should rest, take plenty of fluids and speak to your pharmacist, who will advise you on the over-the-counter remedies that are available."
Colds can last for about two weeks and may end with a cough and bringing up phlegm.
If the cold lasts for more than three weeks, or you become breathless or have chest pains, or already have a chest complaint, please see a doctor.
As part of the new campaign, if you ask your GP for antibiotics for a cold, cough or sore throat caused by a virus, you might get a 'non-prescription' instead of a prescription (a note explaining why you haven't been given the antibiotics).
