Health officials have issued a warning about antibiotics this winter. The UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) has reminded people that the medications are not suitable for certain illnesses.

Antibiotics are a type of type used to treat or prevent infections caused by bacteria. They work by either killing the bacteria or stopping them from growing and multiplying.

This then helps the body's natural immune system clear the infection. However, it is important to know that antibiotics don’t work on infections caused by viruses.

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These include illnesses such as colds, flu, and COVID-19. In a message posted to social media platform X, the UKHSA explained: “Antibiotics don't work for colds and flu - pharmacists can advise you on how to treat your symptoms.”

It added that people should follow these “simple” rules when it comes to antibiotics:

• Don’t take them for colds or flu


• Don’t save them for later


• Take as directed

The warning comes as the UKHSA’s latest English Surveillance Programme for Antimicrobial Utilisation and Resistance (ESPAUR) report, published earlier in November, revealed that nearly 400 people are diagnosed with antibiotic-resistant infections every week in England. These are infections that are harder to treat and can lead to serious complications.

It is believed that the overuse of antibiotics in recent years means they're becoming “less effective” and has led to the emergence of "superbugs". According to the NHS, these are strains of bacteria that have developed resistance to many different types of antibiotics, including:

• MRSA (methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus)


• Clostridium difficile (C. diff)


• the bacteria that cause multi-drug-resistant tuberculosis

The NHS says: “These types of infections can be serious and challenging to treat, and are becoming an increasing cause of disability and death across the world. The biggest worry is that new strains of bacteria may emerge that cannot be treated by any existing antibiotics.”

Dr Alicia Demirjian, consultant epidemiologist and clinical lead for antimicrobial resistance and prescribing at the UKHSA, commented to say: “Antibiotic resistance is one of the biggest threats facing modern medicine, but the good news is we can all do something about it.”

If you have been prescribed antibiotics by a doctor you must make sure to take them exactly as instructed. This means not missing a dose.

The NHS warns: “If you forget to take a dose of your antibiotics, check the patient information leaflet that came with your medicine to find out what to do. If you're not sure, speak to a pharmacist or a GP.

“In most cases, you can take the dose you missed as soon as you remember and then continue to take your course of antibiotics as normal. But if it's almost time for the next dose, skip the missed dose and continue your regular dosing schedule.”

You must not take a double dose to make up for a missed one.