VANCOUVER (NEWS1130) – Next week is Antibiotic Awareness Week and a group of doctors is hoping to remind you that ‘not all bugs need drugs.’  They want people to know, it’s all about getting health professionals and you to use antibiotics wisely. 

A lot of bacteria has now grown resistant to antibiotics, something many worry is a threat to Canadians. Dr. David Patrick with the BC Centre for Disease Control says it’s a problem both doctors and patients have to deal with. 

“In human medicine, about half of the prescriptions that are going out are not needed and so part of that is obviously me continuing to work with my colleagues.  But it’s also important the public is aware that they don’t need antibiotics for colds and for most coughs.”

He adds there is actually a better remedy people can use.

“For that kind of thing [people should] rest, drink fluids, a bit of Tylenol if you’ve got a fever, but we shouldn’t be thinking about antibiotics. The reason is because if we use them when we don’t need them then they’re less likely to serve us when we do need them.”

He also encourages frequent hand washing and explains life-saving antibiotics should simply be used sparingly.