Don't ask GPs for antibiotics, new health campaign urges

People are being urged not to ask their doctor for antibiotics as part of a new campaign aimed at tackling growing resistance to the drugs.

An estimated 5,000 people die every year in England because antibiotics no longer work for some infections, according to Public Health England (PHE), which has launched the Keep Antibiotics Working campaign.

England’s chief medical officer, Professor Dame Sally Davies, has previously warned of a “post-antibiotic apocalypse”, where antibiotics no longer work for serious infections.

Davies said: “Without effective antibiotics, minor infections could become deadly and many medical advances could be at risk – surgery, chemotherapy and Caesareans could become simply too dangerous.

“But reducing inappropriate use of antibiotics can help us stay ahead of superbugs.

“The public has a critical role to play and can help by taking collective action.

“I welcome the launch of the Keep Antibiotics Working campaign, and remember that antibiotics are not always needed so always take your doctor’s advice.”

The government wants to see a further drop in the number of antibiotic prescriptions issues by GPs to tackle the threat from resistance. Antimicrobial resistance occurs when bacteria change in such a way that the medication used to treat them – in this case antibiotics – becomes ineffective.

The PHE’s new campaign tells people to always trust their doctor, nurse or pharmacist on when to take antibiotics. It says that if they are prescribed, they should be taken as directed and never saved for later or shared with others.

Antibiotics do not work on many common conditions, such as colds, flu, earache, sore throats and some chest infections. However, people should see their GP if they have prolonged symptoms and develop other issues such as a sickness, a very high temperature or shortness of breath.

Professor Paul Cosford, medical director at PHE, said: “Antibiotic resistance is not a distant threat, but is in fact one of the most dangerous global crises facing the modern world today.

“Taking antibiotics when you don’t need them puts you and your family at risk of developing infections which in turn cannot be easily treated with antibiotics.

“Without urgent action from all of us, common infections, minor injuries and routine operations will become much riskier.”

Experts have suggested that, in just over 30 years, antibiotic resistance will kill more people globally than cancer and diabetes combined.

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