How can I help prevent antibiotic resistance?

Use antibiotics only when they are genuinely needed, take them exactly as prescribed, never share or save leftovers, and prevent infections through hand hygiene, food safety and vaccination.

Does vaccination help with antibiotic resistance?

Yes. Vaccines prevent infections, including some bacterial infections, which means fewer illnesses need antibiotics in the first place and fewer chances for resistance to develop.

Prevention

What actually helps prevent resistance

Slowing antibiotic resistance is not only a job for hospitals and governments. The everyday choices we all make about antibiotics and about preventing infection add up.

Scope: This guidance is general information for the Australian public. It is not a substitute for advice from your doctor or pharmacist about your own health.

How to help prevent resistance

Four things that make a difference

Only take antibiotics when you need them

Antibiotics do not work on colds, flu or most sore throats. Ask your GP or pharmacist whether one is genuinely needed.

Take them exactly as prescribed

Follow the dose and timing your prescriber gives you, and talk to them before stopping early.

Never share or save leftovers

Return unused antibiotics to any pharmacy through the Return Unwanted Medicines scheme.

Prevent infections in the first place

Hand hygiene, food safety and staying up to date with recommended vaccinations reduce the need for antibiotics.

Using antibiotics correctly

The single most important public behaviour

If you are prescribed an antibiotic, it works best when you take it as directed, at the right dose and times, for the length your prescriber specifies. If side effects worry you, contact your prescriber or pharmacist before stopping rather than deciding on your own.¹

Our complete guide to using antibiotics safely covers the common questions, including the changing advice on finishing the course.

Infection prevention and hygiene at home

The infections you never get do not need antibiotics. Regular hand washing, good food safety, keeping wounds clean, and staying home when unwell all reduce how often infections spread.

The role of vaccination

Vaccines prevent illnesses, including some bacterial infections, which means fewer antibiotics are needed and resistance has fewer chances to develop. Staying up to date with the National Immunisation Program is a practical part of the picture.²

Medically reviewed by Dr Helena Marsh, FRACGP
General practitioner and antimicrobial stewardship lead. Reviewed 3 July 2026 · Next review due July 2027 ·View reviewer profile and credentials

For health professionals and farmers

Stewardship spokes

Prevention also runs through professional practice: antimicrobial stewardship in hospitals, aged care and veterinary practice, and responsible antibiotic use in farming. Signposted resources for these audiences live inwhat you can do and, for policy and governance, Australia's response.

References

Australian Commission on Safety and Quality in Health Care. Antimicrobial Stewardship in Australian Health Care. ACSQHC, Sydney, 2021.
Australian Government Department of Health and Aged Care. National Immunisation Program Schedule. Canberra, 2026.