Antibiotics – use them but don’t abuse them
They must be taken correctly to ensure efficacy
Antibiotics are drugs used to prevent and treat bacterial infections. However, when they are misused, some bacteria mutate and become resistant.
The World Health Organisation says that antibiotic resistance is an extremely serious health issue because it is making us less able to treat infectious diseases, which endangers our well-being.
How to take antibiotics
- Only with a doctor’s prescription: these drugs must be prescribed and controlled by a doctor. Do not take them unless told to do so by a health professional.
- Comply with the dose and timings: If your doctor prescribes your medicine every eight hours, take it at set times, for example, eight o’clock in the morning, four o’clock in the afternoon and twelve midnight. If the dose schedule is every twelve hours, nine o’clock in the morning and evening are good times.
- Finish the course, even if your symptoms go away. If you stop taking antibiotics, the infection may come back, or the bacteria may become resistant.
- Never self-medicate: under no circumstances should you self-medicate, share antibiotics with anyone else, or use left-over drugs of this type.
- Prevent infections: Wash your hands frequently, avoid contact with sick people, keep your vaccinations up-to-date, prepare food hygienically and practice safe sex.