Antibiotics and antimicrobial resistance

What are antibiotics?

Antibiotics are used to treat or prevent some infections. They work by killing bacteria or preventing them from spreading. But they do not work for everything. Antibiotics do not work for viral infections such as colds and flu, and most coughs.

Read about antibiotics (opens in new window), what they are and what they do.

What is antimicrobial resistance (AMR)?

AMR occurs when organisms that cause infection develop ways to survive treatments such as antibiotics.

Read about antimicrobial resistance (opens in new window).

Resistance is a natural occurrence but can be made worse by various things such as misuse of medicines, poor infection control practices such as hand washing and cleaning, global trade, and travel. The biggest worry is that new strains of bacteria may emerge that cannot be treated by any existing antibiotics.

How important is it that we tackle resistance?

As resistance continues to increase, more people will suffer for longer as infections become more difficult to treat, resulting in longer hospital admissions, routine surgical procedures becoming more dangerous to perform, and higher death rates. The impact of AMR can and will affect each and every one of us.

Actions you can take:

• antibiotics only treat bacterial infections. Ask your pharmacist to recommend other medicines to treat symptoms associated with other infections
• for most people, self care is the best way to treat an illness. This means getting plenty of rest, drinking fluids and taking a recommended dose of over the counter fever or pain-reducing medication. However, if symptoms do not resolve or worsen, contact a healthcare practitioner for a review or diagnosis
• if antibiotics are required take them exactly as prescribed and complete the course, never save them for later and never share them with others
• good hygiene practices, such as hand washing, can prevent the spread of infection and reduce the need for antimicrobials, watch this hand washing video
• get vaccinated against preventable illnesses such as flu and measles
• if requested, take specimens to your GP to identify the microorganism causing symptoms so that the correct antimicrobials can be prescribed

Back-up (delayed) prescribing

This is a prescription (which can be post‑dated) given to you with the assumption that it will not be given out immediately, but in a few days if symptoms worsen. If you need the medicines, take them as prescribed for that episode of illness. Do not save them for a later date and do not use them for a different episode of illness.

Page last reviewed: April 24, 2024
Next review due: April 24, 2025