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Healthy living

Using antimicrobials carefully

Antibiotics, antivirals and antifungal medicines are important treatments that help save lives. However, they are becoming less effective because of antimicrobial resistance (AMR).

Everyone can help preserve these medicines for the future.

You can help by:

  • taking medicines exactly as prescribed
  • completing the course if advised by your healthcare professional
  • not sharing medicines with others
  • never keeping leftover medicines ‘just in case’
  • returning unused or leftover medicines to a pharmacy (or veterinary practice for animal medicines) for safe disposal

By using antimicrobials responsibly, you help protect yourself, your family and future generations.

There is more information at Keep antibiotics working about antimicrobial resistance and how you can help tackle it.

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