26 Aug 2017
Are you antibiotic aware?
The guidance for responsibly taking antibiotics is the same for both humans and animals
Some bacteria have become resistant to the drugs we use to treat them and have started to fight back. Help keep our antibiotics effective by using them responsibly.
Antibiotics are not always the answer
Not every illness needs antibiotics – those caused by viruses cannot be treated in this way. Do
not expect antibiotics if your doctor or vet says they are not needed as every inappropriate use
may accelerate bacterial resistance to the drug.
Increasing the recommended dose does not mean it works quicker
Antibiotics should always be taken as prescribed by your doctor or vet. This gives the body
the best chance of working with the drugs to fight an infection and helps to keep bacteria from
evolving new ways of being resistant to the antibiotic.
You always need to finish the course
Not completing the course as prescribed by your doctor or vet is potentially very risky and may
allow resistant bacteria to survive. This means infection can become harder to treat.
Antibiotics work in different ways
There are many reasons why a particular antibiotic that works for one person or animal will not
be appropriate for another. Speak to your doctor or vet before any course of action is taken.
It’s about using the right antibiotic for the right illness
If the problem persists, it’s not about finding something stronger, it’s about finding the right
antibiotic for each case and taking it for the right amount of time. Sensitivity tests can help
identify the right drug.
