The HSE launched a new campaign this week to raise awareness against the overuse of antibiotics. A HSE consultant microbiologist has warned that if we don't take action now we risk wasting one of the most important medical advances of the past 100 years.
The campaign's key message is that "antibiotics are wasted on cold and flu" in that taking antibiotics needlessly means that they won’t work when they are needed to treat a serious infection. Antibiotics are responsible for revolutionising treatment of bacterial infections and have saved countless lives. However, it has become quite common for them to be taken as treatment for infections such as colds, coughs and flu. These common illnesses are caused by viruses, and antibiotics are completely ineffective in their treatment. Using antibiotics unnecessarily causes bacteria to build up resistance to antibiotics and could render them useless. The HSE have warned that if this overuse is not stamped out then we risk reverting to an era “where people become gravely ill or die because we have run out of effective antibiotics”.
The campaign is supported by the Irish College of General Practitioners, Royal College of Physicians of Ireland, Royal College of Surgeons in Ireland, and the Irish Pharmacy Union. During the cold and flu season over the coming weeks, the message that antibiotics are wasted on colds and flu will be circulated via GP surgeries, pharmacies and radio adverts.
Click here to learn more about the overuse of antibiotics in the treatment of colds and flu.
