What is Antibiotic Resistance and How Can You Help?

The following video asks the question what is antibiotic resistance? Dr Chris van Tulleken, an infectious diseases doctor looks at the growth in antibiotic resistance, its consequences for the human race and simple steps we can all take to become antibiotic guardians.

What is Antibiotic Resistance?

When was the last time you had an infection? It probably wasn’t a great worry because you know you can just get some antibiotics- but the problem is antibiotics don’t kill bacteria as well as they used to. The bacteria have become resistant, in fact there are some bacteria which are now totally resistant to all antibiotics.

This is one of the biggest threats to everyone on earth and the problem is only going to get worse unless we act fast and together we are going to enter an era where no antibiotics work.

Going Back to the 1930’s

It would be like going back to the 1930’s before they were discovered; infections that we now regard as trivial were often fatal. Complex surgery was impossible because of the risk of infection –in fact modern medicine depends massively on antibiotics, did you know cancer treatment destroys the immune system most patients need antibiotics to survive – imagine no more heart, bowel or bone operations, no more cancer treatment – this is where we’re headed.

3 Simple Steps we can all Take to Help

With 3 very simple steps we can all become antibiotic guardians.

Step 1 - Don’t demand antibiotics from your doctor
Don’t demand antibiotics from your doctor. We’ve all been there begging for antibiotics because you feel terrible or worse still you are looking after a sick child. We don’t need them every time we are ill, in fact although every day infections may make you feel unwell antibiotics make very little difference to colds, flu, sore throats and coughs so ask a pharmacist about over the counter remedies that can treat your symptoms.
Step 2 – Take antibiotics as prescribed
Take antibiotics exactly as they are prescribed never save them for use in the future and never give them to someone else, they will work better and the bacteria is less likely to become resistant.
Step 3 - Spread the word
Spread the word – tell your friends and family to use antibiotics properly – send them this video and share it.

Antibiotics are some of our most precious medicines and we are going to lose them unless we all become antibiotic guardians.

What is Antibiotic Resistance? – Public Health England

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