Avoid taking antibiotics without medical advice, says Dr Bhagat

Civil Surgeon Dr Sanjeev Bhagat has cautioned the public against taking antibiotics without proper medical advice, warning that such misuse makes the bacteria in the human body resistant to these medicines.

He called this a dangerous trend, explaining that when people self-medicate, antibiotics often fail to work effectively when they actually fall ill. Speaking during the Antimicrobial Resistance Prevention and Control Awareness Week in Kapurthala, Dr Bhagat noted that many individuals consume antibiotics even when they are not required, while others do not take the medicines prescribed by doctors contributing to antimicrobial resistance.

He stressed that antibiotics should be used only under the supervision of a qualified doctor and that old or leftover medicines should never be reused. Dr Bhagat advised the public to avoid taking antibiotics for common colds, flu, runny nose, or other viral infections, emphasising that such illnesses do not require antibiotic treatment.