Patients need rest, not antibiotics, say health officials

Patients need rest, not antibiotics, say health officials More patients should be told to go home and rest rather than be given antibiotics, according to health officials.

Public Health England (PHE) says up to a fifth of antibiotic prescriptions are unnecessary as many illnesses get better on their own.

Overusing the drugs is making infections harder to treat by creating drug-resistant superbugs.

PHE says patients have "a part to play" in stopping the rise of infections. BBC News

See also:

• Research and analysis: English surveillance programme for antimicrobial utilisation and resistance (ESPAUR) report Public Health England
• Don't ask GPs for antibiotics, new UK health campaign urges The Guardian