Antibiotic Conservation
Aotearoa
Thank you for visiting our website to learn about the illness affecting you or your child, and what your GP can do to help you. Our goal is to provide useful information to help you to know more about the illness, and what treatments are most likely to be helpful.
Antibiotics can be helpful for illnesses caused by bacteria, but are never helpful for illnesses caused by viruses.
When antibiotics do not work against the bacteria that cause infections, this is called antibiotic resistance.
Antibiotic resistance is an increasing problem in New Zealand. We currently have the 5th highest rate of antibiotic use in the world. If we continue this high rate of use we will have very high rates of antibiotic resistance.
The more antibiotics are used, the more likely bacteria will develop resistance, and the less antibiotics will work for you and your Whānau.
Never use antibiotics to treat viruses as antibiotics do not work for viruses.
Don’t take antibiotics when they are not needed. This will keep our rates of antibiotic resistance low so these precious medicines continue to work for yourself and everyone.
Antibiotics can be helpful for illnesses caused by bacteria, but are never helpful for illnesses caused by viruses.
By joining our mission, you help promote responsible antibiotic use, protect public health, and ensure a brighter future for all.
By joining our mission, you help promote responsible antibiotic use, protect public health, and ensure a brighter future for all.