Antibiotics: what a course does, and why using them wisely matters.
England uses about 17.5 defined daily doses of antibiotics per 1,000 people, every day. They are one of medicine’s most important tools, and they work on bacteria, not on colds or flu.
A tool for bacterial infections
- Kill or stop the bacteria causing an infection
- Work on bacteria only, not on viruses like colds and flu
- Can also affect other bacteria in the body, including the gut
- Work best taken exactly as prescribed
What the NHS asks of all of us
- Take them exactly as your prescriber directs
- Never save leftovers or share them
- Ask whether they are needed for a cough or cold
- Take unused tablets back to a pharmacy
defined daily doses per 1,000 people, per day, in England. Every course taken when it is not needed adds to antibiotic resistance.
Why it matters beyond you
Bacteria that survive antibiotics can become resistant, and resistant infections are harder to treat. That is why the NHS asks everyone to use antibiotics only when they are needed, and exactly as prescribed.
The best course is the one you only take when you need it.
Your gut is home to trillions of bacteria. Researchers are still mapping how they respond to a course of antibiotics, and the answer varies from person to person. What is clear is that everyday eating habits matter at any time of year.
Everyday food basics
Good for everyone, whatever the season.
If you are taking antibiotics, follow your prescriber’s advice, and speak to your GP or pharmacist about anything that worries you.
