Campaign kicks off to promote correct use of antibiotics

Antibiotics are wasted on colds and flu - that's the key message of a new HSE campaign aimed at raising awareness on the correct use of antibiotics.

The launch coincides with European Antibiotic Awareness Day, the aim of which is to emphasise the importance of only taking antibiotics when they are really needed.

Consultant microbiologist at the Health Protection Surveillance Centre Dr Robert Cunney said: "Antibiotics are one of the most important drugs that we have and because of antibiotic resistance we run the risk that these life-saving drugs are not going to be available to us much longer, unless we start using them more appropriately."