NHS plea to North Yorkshire residents in fight against antibiotic resistance

North Yorkshire residents are urged not to take antibiotics unless absolutely necessary. Credit: PA

North Yorkshire residents are being urged to help combat the growing threat of antibiotic resistance.

They're being asked to refrain from using antibiotics when they don't need to. In England, it's estimated that up to a fifth of antibiotic prescriptions are unnecessary.

Overuse of antibiotics is causing infections to become more drug resistant, creating so-called 'superbugs'.

NHS Vale of York is supporting Public Health England's (PHE) Keep Antibiotics Working Campaign, which is aiming to help prevent antibiotic resistance.

Antibiotics are correctly used when treating serious bacterial infections such as pneumonia, meningitis and sepsis. They are not effective in treating everyday viral infections such as cold and flu.

For infections that the body's immune system can tackle on its own, medical advice is to rest, drink plenty of fluids and use pain relief such as paracetamol.