Six Things Doctors Want You to Know About Antibiotics | Imperial News

Every day, health workers around the world are waging war, in what is becoming the fight of our lives.

They fight against antibiotic resistance.

Doctors are seeing more and more patients with untreatable infections, even with last-resort medications, as bacteria learn to fight antibiotics.

As part of the World Antibiotic Awareness Week at the World Health Organization, researchers and doctors at Imperial College London have revealed six things they would like patients to know about antibiotics to be able to win the battle.

1. Antibiotics are a valuable resource

And their effectiveness decreases each day. Without them, routine procedures such as cancer treatment, caesareans and hip replacements would not be possible.

2. Antibiotic resistance will not be solved with new drugs

The bacteria will eventually become resistant to all the antibiotics we create.

And the time that elapses between the discovery of a new drug and the development of bacterial resistance is getting shorter and shorter.

The only way to preserve antibiotics is to use them only when necessary.

3. Never share antibiotics or keep them for later

Using antibiotics responsibly will help you ensure that when it is prescribed, it is always effective enough to kill bacteria and make you better.

Always follow your doctor's advice regarding antibiotics.

4. Do not buy them abroad to store them at home

Counterfeit antibiotics are a huge global problem and often do not kill bacteria effectively.

5. Wash. Your. Hands!

One of the best weapons against bacterial infections is good hygiene.

Washing with soap and warm water for 20 seconds before eating or preparing a meal, when you return home, and after using the toilet, will help protect you from insects.

6. YOU can help fight antibiotic resistance

Like climate change, antibiotic resistance is a complex and global problem.

An estimated 10 million more people will be killed each year by 2050.

But each of us can play a role in solving this problem, and ensure that antibiotic resistance will not send drugs to the dark age.

The NIHR Health Protection Research Unit for Infections Related to Health Care and Antimicrobial Resistance at Imperial College London is a pioneer in the global fight against cancer. antibiotic resistance and the development of strategies to protect our future health.