Combating antibiotic resistance

Infectious diseases

Combating antibiotic resistance

Target:
General population, healthcare personnel, livestock farming and agriculture

Antibiotics are a vital part of treating bacterial infections, but using them incorrectly can reduce how well they work. It's risky to take them for viral infections, stop treatment too early or follow unqualified advice (like that of friends or relatives). These behaviours can promote antibiotic resistance. It's really important to take antibiotics only when you really need them, in the right dose and for the right amount of time, to make sure they work and keep people healthy.  It's important to take antibiotics only when you really need them. How? Just stick to one simple rule: always follow the instructions on the prescription.

Being precise and accurate is really important in medicine, like in cooking. Using antibiotics incorrectly or too often makes bacteria stronger, which makes infections harder to treat. This problem affects people, animals and the environment, and is becoming a global emergency. So it's really important to use antibiotics carefully and responsibly, and never take them lightly. Antibiotics aren't sweets, after all.

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