Antibiotic awareness day

11:00am Saturday 8th November 2008

HEALTH chiefs are promoting a campaign across Wirral to prevent antibiotics being used by people for viral illnesses such as colds and sore throats - as they do not work.

Tuesday, November 18, is the first European Antibiotic Awareness Day, which is to be an annual event to raise awareness of using antibiotics responsibly and for the right conditions.

Dr Shyamal Mukherjee, a medical director for Wirral Primary Care Trust, said: “The PCT fully supports this year’s antibiotics campaign to reduce the unnecessary use of antibiotics. It should be everyone’s responsibility to conserve antibiotics and promote proper use.

“This will be more effective in disease management and will help to tackle serious infections in the future.”

Dr Bruce Taylor, a GP in Birkenhead, added: “A lot of the common symptoms seen at this time of year, particularly in children are caused by viruses rather than bacteria and simply do not respond to antibiotic treatment.

“In a vast majority of cases of cough, cold, sore throat and ear infection, antibiotics will make no difference to either the length or severity of the infection.

“People should use simple remedies such as paracetamol or take advice from their local community pharmacists.”

The PCT recommends always using simple remedies first and visiting the pharmacy for advice - your Community Pharmacist is a very useful source of advice on many minor ailments. You should not automatically expect an antibiotic prescription when you first visit the doctor’s surgery - the GP will prescribe antibiotics if your symptoms suggest a bacterial infection. If your doctor does prescribe you with antibiotics, ensure you finish the stated course as this will help to ensure you recover and reduces the risk of antibiotics becoming resistant and not working in the future."