We’re all familiar with the idea that we have to use antibiotics wisely. You’ve probably seen a poster at your local health centre warning about their loss of effectiveness, and with good reason – bacterial resistance to these drugs is currently one of the biggest threats to global health.
As patients, many of us have contributed, in one way or another, to this phenomenon, whether by skipping antibiotic doses, failing to complete a course of treatment, or simply taking pills leftover from a previous prescription. But a significant part of the responsibility lies with the healthcare sector, as antibiotics are often prescribed unnecessarily or inappropriately.
