The drugs don't work (From Bromsgrove Advertiser)

The drugs don't work

4:50pm Saturday 16th March 2013 in Local

DON’T OVERDO IT: Jo Galloway from NHS Redditch and Bromsgrove CCG and NHS Wyre Forest CCG, on the use of antibiotics

HEALTH chiefs have launched a campaign to stop people overusing antibiotics.

The Take Care, Not Antibiotics campaign was launched last week by the three Worcestershire clinical commissioning groups (CCG), which decide local health spending.

The campaign aims to prevent the spread of drug-resistant strains of potentially-deadly superbugs such as clostridium difficle (c.diff) and MRSA.

Inappropriate prescription and overuse of antibiotics can lead to infections such as c.diff, an infection which can occur in people who have recently had antibiotics that disrupts normal gut bacteria.

Jo Galloway, from NHS Redditch and Bromsgrove CCG and NHS Wyre Forest CCG, said: “This campaign highlights to the public how antibiotics can act against a range of bacteria, but can also interfere with the healthy balance of bacteria causing other symptoms.

“It is so important that people use antibiotics in the right way, to slow down antibiotic resistance and to make sure antibiotics remain effective for us and future generations.”

Measures to prevent the spread of infections such as c.diff include only using prescribed antibiotics, rest and drink plenty of fluids.

For more information on the campaign, visit redditchandbromsgroveccg.nhs.uk.