Don’t ask when you don’t need!
Antibiotic Awareness Week promotes the correct use of antibiotics.
Why? To contribute to the avoidance of further emergence and spread of antimicrobial resistance (AMR)
AMR is already affecting the care of people now and current trends indicate this will have an increasing impact over time.
The European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control estimates that about 33 000 people die each year in countries of the EU and European Economic Area (EEA) as a direct consequence of an infection due to bacteria resistant to antibiotics.
The burden of these infections is comparable to that of influenza, tuberculosis and HIV/AIDS combined.
In Australia it is estimated around one-third of antimicrobial prescriptions in Australian hospitals were not compliant with treatment guidelines, and almost 1 in 4 antimicrobial prescriptions were assessed as inappropriate. (Antimicrobial prescribing practice in Australian hospitals: Results of the 2017 Hospital National Antimicrobial Prescribing Survey)
Don’t ask when you don’t need an antibiotic for a virus like the common cold or flu
Other Examples of illnesses that are caused by viruses:
Most sore throats , Most coughs, colds and runny noses
Acute sinusitis Acute bronchitis Some eye or ear infections
You GP is your medical home – make an appointment to discuss this important approach
