On Monday 23^rd October, Public Health England (PHE) launched a national campaign, highlighting that taking antibiotics when you don’t need them puts people and families at risk of more severe or longer illness. To help keep antibiotics working PHE are urging people to always take their doctor or nurse’s advice on antibiotics. 

(Click HERE to view video)

It is estimated that 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.

Antibiotics help ward off infections during chemotherapy, caesarean sections and other surgery. They also treat serious bacterial infections, such as pneumonia, meningitis and sepsis, but they are being used for everyday viral infections, such as colds or flu, where they are not effective.Taking antibiotics encourages harmful bacteria that live inside you to become resistant. That means that antibiotics may not work when you really need them.  

This #WeMDT discussion aims to discuss the use of antibiotics and the PHE campaign.  The discussion aims to explore the key messages of the campaign:

• Taking antibiotics when you don’t need them puts you and your family at risk.
• Taking antibiotics encourages harmful bacteria that live inside you to become resistant. 
• That means that antibiotics may not work when you really need them. 
• If you take antibiotics you are more likely to get an antibiotic resistant infection. 
• This is even more likely for children who have taken antibiotics.
• Always take your doctor or nurse’s advice on antibiotics.
  

The discussion also aims to share resources, information and links to help support health care professionals to support the people they care for.