Antibiotics the facts
A REPORT that appears to challenge standard GPs' advice on antibiotics is causing confusion.
Doctors are facing a flood of queries from patients unsure about when to stop taking them.
Here we try to clear up the doubts about the drugs.
Accepted wisdom is that it is i mportant to finish your prescribed course, even if you feel better before the end of it.
Stopping the drugs early may leave some bugs alive which then become resistant to that antibiotic.
So the infection is not wiped out. And when the illness flares up again, the treatment won’t work. WHAT THE NEW STUDY SAYS
The findings, based on published research on antibiotics over the years, is calling this advice into question.
The study, led by Prof Martin Llewelyn, from Brighton and Sussex Medical School infectious diseases department, suggests finishing an antibiotic course may be worse for you.
It said taking the drugs after you feel well may INCREASE the l i kelihood of antibiotic resistance. So the report, published in the British Medical Journal, has left many patients bewildered. WHAT SHOULD I DO?
The Royal College of GPs and Public Health England say the old advice shouldn’t be changed based on one report and, for now, it’s still safer to finish your full prescription course.
GP and author Dr Sarah Brewer, www. drsarahbrewer. com, advised: “Don’t do anything differently for now. “The new report is interesting, the message is still that you should continue to take antibiotics for the length of time prescribed by your doctor. “GPs will be using current best guidelines to make decisions for each individual. Every case will be different.”
Antibiotic courses, which can last ten days or longer, may become shorter in the future because of growing evidence that this could help cut the risk of creating antibiotic- resistant superbugs. But this is different from patients just deciding to stop mid- course, WITHOUT medical consultation. OTHER ANTIBIOTIC CONFUSIONS CLEARED UP
GPs are accused of over-prescribing antibiotics, sometimes j ust to keep happy their misinformed but demanding patients who think they will help viruses such as colds and flu.
Scientists warn this increases overall antibiotic resistance. Which could mean that one day we have no good treatments.
Chief Medical Officer Dame Sally Davies has warned overuse of antibiotics is already causing 50,000 deaths a year from superbugs in Europe and the US. CONDITIONS YOU DO NEED ANTIBIOTICS FOR Antibiotics work against bacterial infections, including: Skin infections Some sexually transmitted infections such as chlamydia Urine and kidney infections Infected bites or wounds Pneumonia THOSE YOU DON’T: Antibiotics do NOT work against viruses, including: Colds and flu Most coughs Most sore throats HOW TO GET THEM:
You need a GP appointment and a prescription. Some pharmacists can prescribe some antibiotics, say for chlamydia or strep throat, after a test result and an in-store consultation. ACROSS