To tell you to read this. Especially if you keep antibiotics at home.

[TornadoOfToys]

www.who.int/mediacentre/factsheets/antibiotic-resistance/en/

Obviously I don't think IABU, but I do think some people need reminding.

And to urge you to think twice about buying meat that says it may have been produced with hormones, antibiotics or other antimicrobial enhancers on the label.

Yes this is something that concerns us so much. Our child has been hospitalised with numerous resistant bacterial strains. She has immune issues so is very suspectible to infection. Some of her infections have actually changed resistance patterns within days, and it scares the hell out of us. Too many people are far too ignorant about this. Some GPs included!

I worry a lot about this and wonder if I'm doing enough.

I'm on long term prophylactic azithromycin and have 'rescue' stronger antibiotics on repeat, on instructions of my consultant. I start them when I become symptomatic (lung condition.) I do then contact my respiratory team and get a sputum test but even waiting for results I am advised to take the abs, which are effective for the bacteria I usually grow. Sometimes the cultures show very little but even then my consultant tells me to take the abs due to symptoms of infection (I can be incredibly ill and return a negative sample). I beat myself up for this and have occasionally held off because of worries about overuse, but I've just ended up in hospital on IVs. I do always finish courses.

I've had hundreds of courses through my life and loads don't do anything for me any more, I know that's not how it works but it does seem I've become resistant in some way say to amoxicillin as it does sod all, I don't really understand why though.

So I do have abs at home and try to be responsible but don't know what else I can do.

You cant treat a "virus" with antibiotics.

nannybeach, of course doctors know that. When they do prescribe antibiotics for a persistent viral infection it is because they also know that viral infections can lead to secondary bacterial infections, such as pneumonia. In an ideal world, they'd be able to look in on the patient every day to be absolutely sure they knew this was happening before they prescribed. In an ideal world, patients with no specific health issues would be able to take 4 weeks off work or school to recover from pneumonia the natural way. But our society isn't built that way. It's not just patients who expect swift results: it's employers and headteachers.

I agree with cory. I developed a chest infection (probably viral) in mid-December that may have turned into pneumonia. It's taken me until this last week to be entirely symptom-free. I didn't go to the doctor because I didn't really want to pick up something else in the waiting room I could tell it was getting better on its own and appointments at my doctors' surgery are like gold dust. However, I could do that because I am a sahm who does work from home over the computer. I could take it easy for a bit. I didn't need to get well as fast as possible.

Other people I know who --gave me it- had the same thing this winter have had to back in physically demanding roles as fast as possible and so have taken antibiotics.

Interestingly DH and I have the same chesty type cough, fluey symptoms etc. I'm nearly better (but it hangs about) DH is still bad he's had it for a week longer than me, Guess who has had the flu jabs and the AB's? We're retired,t even with rest etc. it's not good BUT ABs don't make the slightest difference.

I made my own fresh garlic and fresh lemon medicine That has helped a lot plus ess oil of mint (which is great for allowing cough- free sleep, .and ginger teas.

nannybeach

You cant treat a "virus" with antibiotics.

Ppeatfruit. I think you're being disingenuous to say that antibiotics don't make the slightest difference. Unless you mean in your DH's case only and in this last bout of illness only.

Re. The flu jab. You can't quote one case as saying that doesn't work either. ( I know you asked us to guess who had had the flu jab, obviously not you from your postings)
Like I can't quote my mum had the flu jab and has not had this chest cough or any illness at all this winter ., Thank goodness.
Whereas me and my sister have not had the flu jab and we both got chest infections which AB's were prescribed for and prevented me developing pneumonia.