Antibiotic Resistance is one of the world’s most pressing health issues. It make…

Antibiotic Resistance is one of the world’s most pressing health issues. It makes illnesses that were once easily treatable, now dangerous and that can be fatal.

Taking your antibiotics as prescribed, will protect yourself and your community from resistant infections.

Antibiotic Resistance is about bacteria becoming more and more able to resist the antibiotic, and continue causing infection, by surviving and multiplying. There are also not many new antibiotics being developed, so we need to take special care of the current antibiotics we have and ensure they are used appropriately – prescribed, dispensed or administered.

To help with the struggle against Antibiotic Resistance – be Antibiotic Aware:

1. Viral infections like influenza do not require an antibiotic

(Antibiotics are for bacterial infections)

2. Antibiotics kill or stop the growth of bacteria.

3. Antibiotic doses must be taken on time as prescribed and no doses should be missed.

4. Antibiotic courses as prescribed, must be completed.

5. Don’t save antibiotics and share with others.

6. Overuse or misuse of antibiotics may result in the killing of SENSITIVE bacteria, but may not kill Resistant bacteria.

When antibiotics don’t work, the result can be:

• Longer illnesses

• More complicated illnesses

• More doctor visits

• Stronger and more expensive medicine

• More deaths due to bacterial infections

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