Fears over antibiotic misuse

New strains of drug-resistant viruses are emerging

Lives are being put in danger by the misuse of antibiotics, Scotland's health minister has warned.

Speaking at the launch of an awareness campaign on Wednesday, Susan Deacon stressed that the drugs were not a "cure all".

She pointed out that misuse of antibiotics was giving rise to new strains of drug-resistant viruses.

Now she is asking the public to co-operate with stricter rules governing prescription which aim to ensure that the drugs remain effective.

Susan Deacon says antibiotics don't "cure all"

Ms Deacon said: "I appreciate the misery caused by the cold, viruses and flu.

"But people need to be aware that treating these common ailments with antibiotics will not work.

"Such inappropriate use of these drugs is making them less effective in treating potentially life-threatening infections.

"This campaign aims to help us slow down the resistance process and help us maintain the effectiveness of existing drugs so that they can continue to be used to treat major illnesses."

She said the Scottish Executive would be launching a strategy next year to tackle the problem of drug-resistant infections.

Deputy Chief Medical Officer Andrew Fraser said the public had a major role to play in this fight.

Alternative treatment

"We need to follow the advice from GPs or community pharmacists on whether antibiotics are appropriate," he said.

"If they are not, advice is available on alternative treatments.

"Where antibiotics are prescribed, patients must ensure they complete each course of treatment.

"Failure to complete a course enables bacteria to mutate and become resistant to these drugs."

Bacteria are developing resistance

The campaign was welcomed by the Royal Pharmaceutical Society in Scotland and the Scottish General Practitioners Committee.

Both said the public should become more aware of the dangers and limitations of antibiotics.

Since the introduction of penicillin in the 1940s, bacteria have begun to develop resistance.

If one bacterium survives an antibiotic it can reproduce millions of times in a few hours.

This gives rise to resistant strains of infection which doctors can only combat with new types of antibiotic.

The overuse of antibiotics by doctors and patients is thought to have accelerated the emergence of resistant strains.