Last year, the government scrapped its usual antibiotic awareness campaign amid fears it would put patients off taking antiviral medicines.
The campaign aims to help people understand that antibiotics do not work in treating cold or other viral infections.
This year’s campaign will be launched on 18 November, to coincide with European Antibiotic Awareness Day.
Commenting on the importance of the campaign, Professor Brian Duerden, Inspector of Microbiology and Infection Control at the DoH, said: ‘Imprudent and misuse of antibiotics is one of the main factors driving both the increase in antibiotic resistance and the continued incidence of C difficile infection in hospitals.
‘Unfortunately, misuse of antibiotics is not uncommon; for example failing to review broad spectrum antibiotics when microbiology results are available and not including a stop date on antibiotic prescriptions.’
Antibiotic campaign details revealed
Details of this year's antibiotic awareness campaign have been unveiled by the DoH.
