Overuse of antibiotics may be bad for your health.

That’s the message from NHS Swale Clinical Commissioning Group (CCG).

The medicine is important for treating bacterial infections in people and animals and are prescribed for a variety of ailments, from a chest infection to infected ingrowing toenail, but they are losing their effectiveness at an increasing rate.

As a result, patients in the borough are being asked to think carefully before seeking them from their GP.

Chief medical officer for the UK, Dame Sally Davies, believes we could be close to reaching a point where “we may not be able to prevent or treat everyday infections or diseases”, a view echoed by Dr Megan Philpott, who is a member of the CCG.

She said: “Antibiotic resistance is one of the biggest threats to patients’ safety.

“Overusing them can affect the body’s natural ability to fight infection and make people more likely to develop infections, including more serious ones such as MRSA.

“We’re not discouraging people from using antibiotics if they do have a bacterial infection that needs treating.

“But many people think they need them for a cold or cough. Unfortunately, they do not work against coughs and colds and so should not be used in these circumstances.

“But if they are prescribed, it’s important to use them in the right way, taking them as prescribed and never saving them for later or sharing with others.”

The NHS is also supporting the Treat Yourself Better campaign which encourages people to use a pharmacy for minor illnesses rather than a GP or A&E. Advice can be found by visiting the website www.treatyourselfbetter.co.uk

Public Health England is also encouraging people to become Antibiotic Guardians by taking three steps:

• Don’t ask for antibiotics, consider alternatives and ask a pharmacist about over the counter remedies.
• Take antibiotics exactly as prescribed, never save them for future use and never share them.
• Spread the word and tell people about safe antibiotic use and share the video which has been produced by Public Health England which can be viewed at www.antibioticguardian.com