Antimicrobial Resistance (AMR)

For General Public

• What can the general public do to combat AMR?
  

  
  AMR is affecting everyone. Members of the public should also play an important role in combating the threat of AMR by the following:

  • Proper use of antibiotics
    • Do not demand antibiotics from your doctor
    • Follow your doctor’s advice when taking antibiotics
    • Do not stop taking antibiotics by yourselves even if you are feeling better
    • Do not take leftover antibiotics
    • Do not share your antibiotics with others
    • Do not self-purchase antibiotics without a prescription
  • Practise frequent hand hygiene, especially before eating and taking medicine, and after going to the toilet
  • Ensure your vaccination is up-to-date
  • Maintain cough etiquette, wear a surgical mask if you have respiratory symptoms
• Proper use of antibiotics
  • What are the precautions when taking antibiotics?
    • While taking antibiotic which is necessary to cure your infection, the antibiotic also kills the normal bacteria in your body and predisposes you to acquire more resistant bacteria.
      You should enhance your personal hygiene to protect the health of you and your family:
      • Practise frequent hand hygiene
      • Eat or drink only thoroughly cooked and boiled items
      • Disinfect and cover all wounds
      • Wear a surgical mask if you have respiratory symptoms
      • Young children with symptoms of infections should minimise contact with other children
    • Follow your doctor’s advice when taking antibiotics and do not stop taking antibiotics by yourselves even if you are feeling better. Consult your doctor or pharmacist if in doubt.
  • Are antibiotics miracle drugs that cure all kinds of inflammation?
    • No. Antibiotics are drugs for treating bacterial infections whereas anti-inflammatory drug is a general term referring to a group of drugs which can reduce inflammation and relieve pain, such as non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs like aspirin. Their actions are different from those of antibiotics. If you have questions about the drugs you are taking, you should consult your doctor.
  • Are there any risks in taking antibiotics?
    • Yes. Antibiotics, like any other drugs, may cause side effects and allergic reactions. While antibiotics wipe out the bacteria causing the disease, they also affect the normal bacteria living inside your body and increase the risk of acquiring resistant bacteria which make treatment and control of subsequent infections difficult. Therefore, your doctor will consider your condition and balance the treatment benefits against risks before making a prescription. To protect your health, follow your doctor’s instructions when taking antibiotics.
  • What are the side effects of taking antibiotics?
    • Each antibiotic has its own specific side effects. In general, some people may experience side effects such as nausea, vomiting, constipation or diarrhoea, and headache when they are taking antibiotics. If the side effects persist or worsen, you should consult your doctor. Some people may also develop allergic reactions such as rash, itchiness or breathlessness after taking antibiotics. If this should occur, seek medical advice immediately. If drug allergy is confirmed, inform your doctor about your history of drug allergy in future consultations.
    • Some antibiotics may decrease the efficacy of oral contraceptives, or cause harm to the foetus or infant. Therefore, women should inform their doctors of their contraceptive, pregnancy or breastfeeding status so that appropriate prescriptions could be given.
• Personal hygiene
• Self-care tips for minor illness
  • Do I always need antibiotics if I have cold or flu?
    • 90% of upper respiratory tract infections (URTI) do not require antibiotic treatment (URTI such as common cold and influenza that are of viral origin)
    • If you have a cold or flu, adopt the following measures:
      • Have adequate rest and drink plenty of water. If symptoms persist, consult your doctor
      • Follow your doctor’s advice on the use of drugs
      • Do not demand antibiotics from your doctor
      • Do not self-purchase antibiotics without a prescription
  • If I am having a cold or flu and my nasal discharge changes to yellow or green, do I need antibiotics?
    • It is quite common for the discharge to become thick and change to yellow or green during a cold or flu. Therefore, changes in the appearance of nasal discharge alone do not justify the use of antibiotics. Always consult your doctor for the use of antibiotics.
  • Do I always need antibiotics if I have fever?
    • No. Fever is a common presenting symptom of infection which may or may not be caused by bacterial infections. You should follow your doctor’s advice for the use of antibiotics. For the sake of your own health, you should not demand antibiotics from your doctor nor self-purchase antibiotics without a prescription.
  • Why should I keep vaccination up-to-date?
    • Up-to-date vaccination helps to prevent bacterial infections like pneumococcal pneumonia, which helps to reduce use of antibiotics. Up-to-date vaccination also helps to prevent viral infections and the complications including secondary bacterial infections. A local survey showed that 54% of respondents have mistaken that cold and flu are treatable by antibiotics. Seasonal flu vaccination can therefore not only prevent the inappropriate primary use of antibiotics for seasonal influenza, but also their use for secondary bacterial infections. This translates into fewer opportunities for resistance to occur.
• "I-pledge" certificate for responsible use of antibiotics

Please click here to report any suspected illegal sale of antibiotics to the Drug Office