Become an ‘Antibiotic Guardian’

NHS North Kirklees and NHS Greater Huddersfield Clinical Commissioning Groups (CCGs) are making a stand in the battle against antibiotic resistance and the development of ‘super-bugs’ by encouraging everyone to become an Antibiotic Guardian.

The Antibiotic Guardian pledge campaign calls on the public and medical community to become antibiotic guardians by choosing one simple pledge about how they will make better use of these vital medicines. This comes in the countdown to European Antibiotic Awareness Day on Wednesday 18 November, a national campaign by Public Health England.

Antibiotics are essential medicines for treating bacterial infections in both humans and animals, but they are increasingly losing their effectiveness. Bacteria can adapt and find ways to survive the effects of an antibiotic so that the antibiotic no longer works. This is called antibiotic resistance.

Dr David Kelly, a local GP and Chair of NHS North Kirklees CCG said: “The more you use an antibiotic, the more bacteria become resistant to it. There are very few new antibiotics in development, which is why it is important existing antibiotics are used wisely and these life-saving medicines continue to stay effective for ourselves and future generations.”

Many antibiotics are prescribed and used for mild infections when they do not need to be, say campaigners. All colds and most coughs, sinusitis, earache and sore throats often get better without antibiotics.

Dr Steve Ollerton, local GP and Clinical Leader of NHS Greater Huddersfield CCG added: “Antibiotics should only be taken as prescribed and never saved for later or shared with others. It is also important to use antibiotics in the right way – the right dose, at the right time for the right duration. Appropriate use of antibiotics will slow down the development of antibiotic resistance.”

You can sign up to become an ‘Antibiotic Guardians’ by choosing a simple pledge at http://antibioticguardian.com/.