Mirror, mirror on the wall. Do I need antibiotics at all?

Tis the season to catch a cold or flu, and over-dependence on anti-biotic drugs is yet again a massive concern among health professionals in Malta this winter. It seems there is an overwhelming tendency of people to stock up on anti-biotic medicines to combat cold and flu symptoms as needed during the winter months. Antibiotics require a prescription in Malta, however while they have been known to have been handed over the counter in the past, it is also common today for general practitioners to admit to needlessly prescribing such drugs knowing that these will simply be procured elsewhere should they refuse to.

A stronger campaign to educate people that not all sicknesses can be cured with antibiotics must also be launched.

Experts agree that the underlying danger associated with needlessly prescribing and taking antibiotic drugs, is that this may result in anti-microbial resistance (AMR).  In simple terms, this is when the bacteria infecting people becomes immune to the medicines taken to combat them. This matter is of great concern as it may by definition result in many of the medicines we are accustomed to today becoming obsolete in future, leaving us with few if any alternatives to combat bacterial diseases. 

Contrary to most other treatment, the more we use antibiotics, the less effective they become. Over 25,000 people die every year from antibiotic-resistant infections in the UK and Europe.

Instead of just taking pills, we need to see if the illness is bacterial or viral, to see if antibiotics are even needed. Antibiotics are only needed to treat bacterial illness. Most general antibiotics have a lot of bacteria inside the pill, which could cause harm to the ‘good bacteria’ in your body rather than the bad ones.