Brits have been warned not to take a common pill for the flu or a cold. The UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) issued an important reminder about antibiotics.
Antibiotics are a form of medication designed to treat or prevent bacterial infections. They function by either eliminating the bacteria or inhibiting their growth and multiplication.
This helps the body’s natural immune system eradicate the infection. However, it is crucial to understand that antibiotics are ineffective against viral infections.
Such infections include ailments like colds, flu, and COVID-19. In a statement shared on social media platform X, the UKHSA said: « Antibiotics don’t work for colds and flu – pharmacists can advise you on how to treat your symptoms. »
The agency further advised people to adhere to these « simple » guidelines regarding antibiotics:
- Don’t take them for colds or flu
- Don’t save them for later
- Take as directed
This advice comes as cases of flu have been increasing in the UK. The latest data from the UKHSA showed that in the week up to December 7, flu positivity increased in England with a weekly mean positivity rate of 21 per cent compared with 17 per cent in the previous week.
Hospital admissions due to flu also rose to 10.05 per 100,000 people, compared with 8.09 per 100,000.
Antibiotic-resistant infections
The warning also follows the publication of the UKHSA’s English Surveillance Programme for Antimicrobial Utilisation and Resistance (ESPAUR) report in November this year. The report disclosed that nearly 400 people are diagnosed with antibiotic-resistant infections weekly in England.
These infections are more challenging to manage and can result in severe complications. It is speculated that the excessive consumption of antibiotics in recent years has rendered them « less effective », leading to the emergence of « superbugs ».
According to the NHS, these are variants of bacteria that have developed resistance to numerous types of antibiotics, including:
- MRSA (methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus)
- Clostridium difficile (C. diff)
- the bacteria that cause multi-drug-resistant tuberculosis
The NHS said: « These types of infections can be serious and challenging to treat, and are becoming an increasing cause of disability and death across the world. The biggest worry is that new strains of bacteria may emerge that cannot be treated by any existing antibiotics. »
Dr Alicia Demirjian, consultant epidemiologist and clinical lead for antimicrobial resistance and prescribing at the UKHSA, stated: « Antibiotic resistance is one of the biggest threats facing modern medicine, but the good news is we can all do something about it. »
Should a GP prescribe you antibiotics, it is crucial to follow the instructions precisely, ensuring no doses are skipped. The NHS warns: « If you forget to take a dose of your antibiotics, check the patient information leaflet that came with your medicine to find out what to do. If you’re not sure, speak to a pharmacist or a GP.
« In most cases, you can take the dose you missed as soon as you remember and then continue to take your course of antibiotics as normal. But if it’s almost time for the next dose, skip the missed dose and continue your regular dosing schedule. »
You must not take a double dose to compensate for one you have missed.
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