Download 28958 Wilson, Steve (IC2 Antibiotics)(AU).indd

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November 2008
April 2016
April 2018
UCLH/MB/INF/IC/ANTIBIOTICS/2
UCLH0291
© University College London Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, Unique Code: 28958
Resistance to antibiotics
Bacteria evolve rapidly—they adapt and
find ways to survive the effect of antibiotics.
They become “antibiotic resistant” so that the
antibiotic no longer works.
Antibiotic resistance is growing. If you take
antibiotics when you do not need them, they
may lose their ability to kill bacteria. If the
bacteria keep “overpowering” the medicines
we have, we may run out of ways to kill these
bacteria.
This is a health hazard not just for the person
having taken the antibiotics inappropriately,
but also for anyone else who might catch the
resistant bacteria afterwards.
Why can’t other antibiotics be
used to treat resistant bacteria?
They can, but they may not be as effective, they
may have more side-effects and eventually the
bacteria will become resistant to them too.
We cannot be sure we will always be able to
find new antibiotics to replace the old ones.
In recent years fewer new antibiotics have
been discovered, so we must look after the
antibiotics we have by using them carefully. We
cannot stop resistance occuring, but we can do
a lot to slow it down and stop it spreading.
‫ ﻃﺒﺎﻋﺔ ﺁﺒﻴﺮﺓ ﺃﻭ ﺗﺴﺠﻴﻞ‬،‫ ﻋﻠﻰ ﺳﺒﻴﻞ ﺍﻟﻤﺜﺎﻝ‬،‫ﺇﻟﻰ ﺍﻟﺤﺼﻮﻝ ﻋﻠﻰ ﻩﺬﻩ ﺍﻟﻤﻌﻠﻮﻣﺎﺕ ﻓﻲ ﺻﻴﻐﺔ ﺃﺧﺮﻯ‬
‫ﺇﺫﺍ ﺁﻨﺖ ﺑﺤﺎﺟﺔ‬
.‫ ﺃﻭ ﺁﻨﺖ ﺑﺤﺎﺟﺔ ﺇﻟﻰ ﺧﺪﻣﺎﺕ ﻣﺘﺮﺟﻢ ﺗﻔﻀﻞ ﺑﺎﻻﺗﺼﺎﻝ ﺑﻨﺎ ﻋﻠﻰ ﺍﻟﺮﻗﻢ ﺍﻟﻤﻮﺿﺢ ﺃﻋﻼﻩ‬،‫ﺻﻮﺗﻲ‬
Bengali
Cantonese
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請按照上述號碼聯絡我們。
Farsi
Mandarin
如果您需要本资料以另一种格式提供，如大字体或音频格式，或需要翻译服务，请
按照上述号码联系我们。
Polish
For further information
Ask your doctor, practice nurse or pharmacist
Taking antibiotics when they are not needed
and not taking them correctly, for example,
just when you remember or in a low dose, will
lead to more bacteria becoming resistant to
them. This is why it is important to finish the
course of antibiotics even if you feel better.
UCLH Medicines Information Helpline
Telephone: 020 3447 3025
Some infections are resistant to certain
antibiotics. MRSA is an example of an infection
that cannot be treated with standard antibiotics.
If you would like this information in another
format, for example, large print, or audio, or
the services of a translator please contact the
Infection Control Team on: 0845 155 5000
extension 79716.
Remember: Always complete your course
of antibiotics even if you feel better!
Arabic
Public Health England
Website:
www.gov.uk/government/
organisations/public-health-england
Prosimy się z nami skontaktować pod podanym powyżej numerem telefonu,
jeśli chcieliby Państwo otrzymać niniejszą informację w innym formacie, np.
w formacie dużym drukiem, w postaci nagrania dźwiękowego lub skorzystać
z usług tłumacza.
Portuguese
Caso pretenda esta informação noutro formato, por exemplo num formato
ampliado ou em áudio, ou caso precise dos serviços de um tradutor, deverá
contactar-nos pelo número acima.
Somali
Haddii aad macluumaadkan ku rabto hab kale; tusaale ahaan, far waawayn
ama hab maqal ah, ama aad rabto adeeg tarjumaad leh fadlan nagala soo
xidhiidh telefoonka kor ku xusan.
Spanish
Si necesita esta información en otro formato, como por ejemplo, en formato
de imprenta grande o audio, o los servicios de un traductor, por favor
póngase en contacto con nosotros en el número que aparece arriba.
Turkish
Bu bilgileri başka bir formatta, örneğin iri harflerle veya sesli olarak, ya da
tercüman yardımıyla almak isters
Antibiotics
What are antibiotics?
How to take antibiotics
Special care
Allergies
Antibiotics are medicines used to treat
infections caused by bacteria. They work
by either killing bacteria or preventing their
growth. Different types of antibiotics are
used to treat different kinds of infection. In
the UK, most antibiotics are only available on
prescription from a doctor or a dentist.
Antibiotics are usually taken by mouth,
but can sometimes be given into a vein
(intravenous), into a muscle (intramuscular)
or applied to the affected part of the body
such as skin, eyes or ears as drops, lotion or
ointment (also known as topical).
You should speak to your doctor before taking
an antibiotic if you know you have any liver or
kidney problems.
Some people can be allergic to antibiotics,
particularly penicillin and cephalosporins,
and may experience side-effects such
as a rash, swelling of the face and tongue
and difficulty in breathing when they take
antibiotics. This is called an anaphylactic
reaction and it can be serious or even fatal.
Always tell your doctor, nurse or pharmacist
if you have had an allergic reaction to an
antibiotic and remind them of your allergy
before you receive any antibiotics.
When should antibiotics be used?
Antibiotics do not work against infections
caused by viruses such as common colds, flu,
most coughs or sore throats. Antibiotics are
effective only against bacterial infections—
they cannot help you recover from infections
caused by viruses.
Your doctor will only prescribe antibiotics
when you need them, for example for a kidney
infection or pneumonia. Antibiotics may be lifesaving for infections such as meningitis.
If you are having an operation, you may be
given antibiotics to prevent an infection. This
is known as prophylaxis and is especially
common before surgery to repair broken
bones and joints and before bowel surgery.
Misuse of antibiotics causes bacteria to
become resistant to antibiotic treatments. So
when you need antibiotics in the future they
may no longer work.
Remember: Antibiotics won’t work in the
case of a cold or flu!
Some antibiotics should not be taken with
certain foods, whilst others are best taken
when there is no food in your stomach,
usually an hour before meals or two hours
after. Alcohol should be avoided with certain
antibiotics (such as metronidazole). Always
follow the instructions on the label or patient
information leaflet.
When the doctor has confirmed that
antibiotics are necessary, it is very important
to take the antibiotics in a responsible manner.
If antibiotics are not taken as prescribed, this
can cause bacteria to become resistant. It is
therefore important to finish the full course
and take the correct dose at the right time to
kill all the bacteria that are causing infection.
Do not give your antibiotics to friends, family
or pets and do not keep left-over antibiotics.
If you have received more doses than you
were prescribed ask your pharmacist about
how to dispose of the remaining medicines.
Remember: Take antibiotics responsibly!
Tell your doctor or pharmacist if you are
pregnant or breastfeeding before taking any
antibiotics.
Side-effects of antibiotics
The most common side-effects with antibiotics
are diarrhoea, nausea and vomiting. Often
you may get no obvious side-effects from
antibiotics, however if your symptoms persist
then contact your doctor.
After treatment with certain antibiotics, you
may get a fungal infection such as thrush.
This is because antibiotics may destroy your
body’s “good” bacteria that help to control
overgrowth of microbes like fungi, as well as
the “bad” bacteria responsible for the infection
being treated.
Remember: Remind your doctor, nurse
or pharmacist of any allergies before you
receive antibiotics!
Interactions with other medicines
Certain antibiotics can stop the contraceptive
pill working properly. If you have diarrhoea
or vomiting while taking an antibiotic, your
pill might not be properly absorbed. In
either case, you should use additional
contraception while you are taking the
antibiotic and for a further seven days after
finishing the course.
There are a number of important interactions
between antibiotics and other medicines
so it’s important to check with your doctor
or pharmacist before you take any other
medicines or herbal remedies at the same
time as your antibiotics.