Antimicrobial Resistance is a threat to your own and your family’s health. You can help by taking some simple steps:

• Only take antibiotics when they are prescribed by a healthcare professional.
• Remember, antibiotics are not effective against viral infections, such as a cold, Covid or the flu. Most simple infections such as sore throats or earaches do not need antibiotics. Your body can usually fight these infections on its own.
• There are other medicines available to purchase to help manage your symptoms.
• If you are prescribed an antibiotic, you must take it exactly as directed.
• Never share antibiotics with anyone else – this could be dangerous.
• Take any unused or unwanted antibiotics to a local community pharmacy for safe disposal.

Taking antibiotics when you don’t need them puts both you and others at risk.
Resistance to antibiotics is a growing concern, and it’s important that we control usage to keep them working for when they’re really needed.

It’s estimated that at least 5,000 deaths are caused every year in England because antibiotics no longer work for some infections and this figure is set to rise with experts predicting that in just over 30 years, antibiotic resistance will kill more people than cancer and diabetes combined.

In some cases, you may not need an antibiotic so ensure you trust your Doctor, Nurse or Pharmacist’s advice as to when they’re required. Take antibiotics as directed and never save them for later use or share them with others.

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