Using antibiotics safely: the complete guide for Australians

Antibiotics are among the most valuable medicines we have. They also stop working when we use them when we do not need them, or use them badly. This guide brings together the everyday questions Australians ask most often, and links to a detailed answer for each.

When antibiotics help, and when they do not

Antibiotics treat infections caused by bacteria. They do nothing for infections caused by viruses, which is why they will not shorten a cold, the flu, or most sore throats and sinus infections. Taking an antibiotic you do not need still exposes the bacteria in your body to the drug, which is one of the ways resistance builds.

The single most useful habit is to ask, rather than assume. Your GP or pharmacist can tell you whether your illness is likely bacterial, and whether an antibiotic will actually help.

Taking them well

If you are prescribed an antibiotic, take it at the doses and times your prescriber gives you. If something goes wrong, for example side effects that worry you, talk to your prescriber or pharmacist before stopping rather than deciding alone. The old blanket advice to “always finish the course” is more nuanced than it once was, and we look at the current Australian guidance in a dedicated article.

What this cluster covers

• Do antibiotics work on colds and the flu?
• The “finish the course” debate, explained
• What to do with leftover antibiotics
• Antibiotics and children: what parents should know
• Common antibiotic side effects and when to worry
• How to tell if you actually need an antibiotic

For the wider picture, see our pillar on preventing antibiotic resistance and what you can do.