It's Antibiotic Awareness Week!

Antibiotic resistance is one of the biggest threats facing us today

Without effective antibiotics many routine treatments will become increasingly dangerous. Setting broken bones, basic operations, even chemotherapy and animal health all rely on access to antibiotics that work.

Antibiotic Awareness Week is designed to encourage the public, students and educators, farmers, the veterinary and medical communities and professional organisations, to become Antibiotic Guardians and slow resistance we need to cut the unnecessary use of antibiotics.

Acute Medicine Consultant, Suneeta Teckchandani said “Antibiotics are an important weapon against infection, however, the overuse of Antibiotics courses to avoid resistance.

My pledge this year will be to review each and every antibiotic on my acute medical ward rounds with regards to its indication, duration and stop or review date. I would also scrutinize any allergy history to antibiotics, so that I am using the available antibiotics wisely for my patient.”

Consultant Anaesthetist, Tim Jackson said “When treating with antibiotics always give the whole cause of avoid or prevent complications and the treatment being less effective

My pledge this year begins when I prescribe antibiotics for sepsis: I will supervise their prompt delivery and review for de-escalation opportunities within 48-72 hours”

There is still time to choose one simple pledge about how you’ll make better use of antibiotics and help save these vital medicines from becoming obsolete.

To find out more and pledge the campaign click http://antibioticguardian.com