MediQHow to protect yourself and your family from drug-resistant infections
Drug-resistant germs are making common infections harder to treat. You can lower your risk by using medicines correctly, staying clean and keeping vaccines up to date.
In short
- Misusing antibiotics, like taking them for viral colds, helps dangerous drug-resistant germs survive and spread.
- Washing hands with clean water and soap is a simple way to prevent infections without needing medicines.
- Only take antibiotics when prescribed by a doctor, and never share them or use leftover pills.
You might have taken an antibiotic for a cold or saved leftover pills for later. These common habits help create germs that no longer respond to our medicines. Antimicrobial resistance happens when bacteria, viruses, fungi and parasites stop responding to the drugs designed to kill them.
This is a major global health threat. In 2021, bacterial resistance was estimated to be associated with more than 4.7 million deaths globally. The good news is that everyday choices can help slow this down.
Why do medicines stop working?
The misuse and overuse of antimicrobials drive this problem. Taking these drugs when you do not need them, or taking the wrong type, helps resistant germs survive and spread. In 2023, approximately 1 in 6 laboratory-confirmed bacterial infections worldwide were resistant to antibiotics.
Poor access to clean water, sanitation and hygiene also plays a big role. When we cannot wash away germs easily, infections spread faster and people rely more on medicines.
What can you do at home?
You have real power to prevent infections and protect the medicines we still have. Key factors you can control include:
- Wash your hands regularly with soap and safe water to prevent spreading germs.
- Never take antibiotics unless a doctor prescribes them for you.
- Do not share your medicines or use leftover pills from an old illness.
- Keep your vaccinations up to date, because preventing an infection means you will not need medicine for it.
- Practice safe food handling at home and on farms to stop resistant germs from entering your meals.
Does this affect everyone?
Yes. Resistance affects all countries, regardless of income, and spreads across borders. People living in low-resource settings, the very young and the very old are especially impacted. It also threatens animals and plants, reducing farm productivity and putting food security at risk.
Too few new antibiotics are being developed to replace those that no longer work. This makes protecting our current medicines even more important for you and your community.
The bottom line: preventing infections through hygiene and using medicines only when truly needed are your best daily defences against drug-resistant germs.
What you can do now
- Wash your hands often with soap and clean water to prevent infections before they start.
- Take antibiotics only when a doctor prescribes them specifically for your current illness.
- Keep your routine vaccinations up to date to prevent infections without needing medicines.
- Talk to a doctor or pharmacist if you feel unwell instead of taking leftover antibiotics at home.
Questions you may have
What exactly is antimicrobial resistance?
It occurs when bacteria, viruses, fungi and parasites do not respond to antimicrobial medicines. As a result, infections become difficult or impossible to treat.
Why should I care about this if I am healthy?
Resistance affects all countries and spreads across borders. It disproportionately impacts vulnerable populations like the very young and very old, and it also harms animals and plants, threatening food security.
Can we just invent new antibiotics to solve the problem?
The world faces a research crisis, with too few new antibiotics being developed to replace those that no longer work. This leaves fewer treatment options for people with drug-resistant infections.
Have a question?
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