ANTIBIOTICS’ USE WEEK: RESPONSIBLE MEDICINE USE IS ONE OF THE WAYS TO IMPROVE THE HEALTH OF THE NATION!

Antibiotics are rightly regarded as one of the greatest discoveries in medicine. They are the most effective agents against most pathogenic bacteria. However, even with a powerful tool at their disposal, humanity does not always use it responsibly. One of the main threats to the progress made in medicine is antibiotic resistance. This resistance occurs when bacteria adapt to the drugs designed to eliminate them.

The more frequently someone uses antibiotics, the faster this process accelerates. That's why spreading awareness about the proper use of antibiotics is the main goal of World Antibiotic Use Week, which runs from November 18 to 24. The primary causes of antibiotic resistance are the overuse of these drugs, their easy availability, and incorrect assessments by pharmacists.

According to the WHO, approximately 700,000 people die each year worldwide from bacterial diseases caused by acquired drug resistance. The introduction of electronic prescriptions for antibacterial medications aims to reduce uncontrolled and self-administered antibiotic use. In Ukraine, since 2022, pharmacies have been dispensing antibiotics only with a prescription from a licensed doctor.

We have gathered several important recommendations from doctors and pharmacists regarding the proper use of antibiotics.

• Never use antibiotics to treat viral infections! These medicines only fight bacteria!
• Do not stop taking antibiotics on your own! Do not use leftover antibiotics from a previous course of treatment.
• Get vaccinated, practice good hand hygiene, and maintain distance from sick people! This helps prevent illnesses and can lower the need for antibiotics.
• See a doctor if the antibiotics he prescribed do not relieve the symptoms. You might need to try a different medication.

We hope these tips will be helpful and potentially life-saving for you and your loved ones! We want to add that we at the Charity Exchange “DobroDiy” have always supported evidence-based medicine. Therefore, we emphasize the importance of avoiding self-medication! Do not experiment on yourself or your children!