Antibiotic Challenge
Every time we take an antibiotic there is a risk of the development of resistant strains, meaning that
the choice of effective antibiotics is becoming limited to treat diseases that cause infections in
humans.
So we must ensure that antibiotics are only prescribed when clinically necessary, at the correct dose
and for the correct length of time.
Community pharmacists and their team have a key role to ensure that antibiotics are used correctly.
It is important to educate patients about antibiotic therapy. It may help to remember the mnemonic
FRAIS.
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Finish the course
Regular intervals
After, with or before food
Interactions
Side effects
Promoting self care advice can be helpful to patients that are symptomatic. Most patients with a
healthy immune system will be able to fight off infection. However patients may want symptomatic
relief whilst their immune system combats the infection this may include pain relief, decongestants,
demulcents, antitussives, antipyretics or local anaesthetic lozenges.
Pharmacies also offer minor ailment schemes which should be utilised first if possible before
consulting the GP, and during winter season patients should make good use of flu clinics that are
held by GP surgeries and many pharmacies.
The following general self care advice may also be beneficial to patients when feeling poorly:
To drink plenty of fluids, have plenty of rest and seek advice from their local pharmacist, GP or
nurse to help ease symptoms.
The table below details approximately the duration of symptoms for common conditions.
Illness
Duration of Symptoms
Ear infection
Four days
Sore throat
One week
Common cold
One and a half weeks
Sinusitis
Two and a half weeks
Cough or bronchitis
Three weeks
Community pharmacy has an important public health role and can use this method to engage with
patients to help prevent infection.
Promoting campaigns such as Catch it, bin it, kill it, European Antibiotic Awareness Day and
effective hand hygiene contributes to the health agenda.
Also the availability of health promotion services such as smoking cessation, healthy eating
information, weight management programmes and signposting; these all in turn help to raise
awareness and allow the body to fight infection.