The Directorate-General of Health (DGS) in Portugal has issued a reminder on the appropriate use of antibiotics, emphasizing the importance of this information for all Portuguese citizens.
In a Facebook announcement, the health authority highlighted that maintaining the efficacy of these medicines is “everyone’s responsibility,” providing four key recommendations.
Reiterating that antibiotics should not be used indiscriminately, the DGS outlined its advice as follows:
The recommendations are:
- Always take antibiotics as your doctor prescribed: Even if symptoms subside, continue the course to fully cure the infection;
- Do everything possible to prevent infections: Regular and proper hand hygiene is the most effective form of prevention;
- Do not take any medication unless prescribed by a doctor: This helps prevent the development of antibiotic-resistant bacteria;
- For colds and flu, avoid antibiotics: Antibiotics are ineffective against viruses and only work against bacteria.
