Antibiotics: How to use them effectively?

Antibiotics are useful, for example, to fight:

• cystitis;
• bacterial pneumonia;
• Bacterial sore throat (to find out if you have sore throat from bacteria, you should do a Trod, a rapid diagnostic test).
• bacterial meningitis.

They are, however, ineffective against viral diseases such as

• nasopharyngitis in children and adults;
• influenza;
• acute bronchitis;
• viral angina.

What to do to keep antibiotics effective

Santé publique France reports that the repeated and inappropriate use of antibiotics has encouraged the appearance of bacteria that have become resistant to this type of medicine, so-called antibiotic resistance. Bacteria may develop defense mechanisms, which reduce or cancel the action of the antibiotics fighting them. As a result, some infections are becoming increasingly difficult to cure.

To combat the development of bacterial resistance and to preserve the effectiveness of antibiotics, it is necessary to use them only on medical prescription. Then, if your doctor prescribes antibiotics, it is especially important to:

• adhere to the dose, dosing frequency and duration of your antibiotic treatment, according to what is on your prescription;
• do not give your antibiotics to anyone else, as each treatment is prescribed for a specific type of infection and tailored to each person;
• ask your doctor for advice if you think you are having any side effects (rash, nausea...);
• do not use an antibiotic again after treatment has finished, even if you have symptoms that resemble those you have had previously.

You can also return to your pharmacist any opened or unused cans of antibiotics after your treatment has finished.