More used to fighting ‘the’ Resistance, NHS Grampian has recruited an Imperial Storm Trooper to assist in the battle against antibiotic resistance on European Antibiotic Awareness Day.
Dr Vhairi Bateman, a consultant in infectious diseases and medical microbiology at Aberdeen Royal Infirmary, said: “Antibiotic resistance happens when bacteria adapt over time and no longer respond to treatments. As a result, antibiotics become ineffective, and infections become increasingly difficult or impossible to treat.
"It’s many years since the last time a new antibiotic class hit the market, so doctors like me have a limited menu to choose from.
"It is vital we use what we have sensibly, and don’t prescribe – or ask to be prescribed – antibiotics unnecessarily. We can’t stop resistance, but we can certainly slow it down.”
Dr Bateman continued: “I want people to remember antibiotics will not work for viral infections.
"As we head towards winter, the most obvious of these are colds, ‘flu, and norovirus. An antibiotic will have no effect on these illnesses; by taking one you could be unwittingly building up resistance and putting your health at risk in the future.
“As bacteria become resistant to antibiotics, we’re forced to prescribe different treatments, which may not be as effective and/or come with serious side effects.
"In 2019, an estimated 7,600 deaths in the UK were directly because of infections resistant to antibiotics.”
Suzanne Brittain, a specialist pharmacist at ARI, added: “When antibiotics are prescribed, they should be taken according to the instructions from your doctor, nurse prescriber, or pharmacist.
"If you don’t finish a course, for any reason, do not share them with anyone else. Instead, return them to a pharmacy for safe disposal.”