Portsmouth and South East Hampshire Health Authority are reminding people that colds, most coughs and sore throats are viral infections. Antibiotics are designed to work against bacterial illnesses and do not work against viral infections. Patients should not be surprised if their GPs suggest other ways of dealing with symptoms.
Dr Mike Sadler, Deputy Director of Public Health at Portsmouth and South East Hampshire Health Authority, said “Many of the bacteria that cause illnesses such as tonsilitis, pneumonia, tuberculosis and meningitis are now becoming resistant to antibiotics. If we continue to use them inappropriately more bacteria will become resistant to them. If patients are given antibiotics when they do not really need them they can do more harm than good in the long run.”
Last summer as a result of an outbreak of MRSA (a multi-resistant bacteria) at Portsmouth Hospitals NHS Trust it was necessary to close ‘E’ level wards at Queen Alexandra Hospital for approximately two weeks.
The Department of Health has launched a public education campaign to tackle antibiotic resistance and adverts are appearing in newspapers and magazines. Posters will appear in GPs surgeries and pharmacies, communicating the message that antibiotics don’t work on coughs, most colds and sore throats. Over 340,000 prescriptions were written for antibiotics last year, at a cost of three million pounds.
Dr Sadler added, “Most people realise that antibiotics do not work for colds, but not many people realise that they do not work for the majority of coughs and sore throats. Nearly all sore throats, coughs and colds are caused by viruses. Giving antibiotics does not help recovery but does give the bacteria that are always around in the throat a chance to develop resistance.”
Katie Hovenden, Pharmaceutical Adviser at the Health Authority, said, “Your local pharmacist will be able to advise you about other remedies you can safely take to help relieve your symptoms”.
