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As flu season sweeps across South Africa, healthcare professionals are urging patients to understand why antibiotics are not always the answer.
You have a sore throat.
You’re coughing.
Your nose is blocked.
You feel exhausted.
After waiting to see a doctor, many patients leave disappointed when they discover they are not receiving the one thing they expected: an antibiotic prescription. Yet according to healthcare professionals, that decision is often one of the most important ways doctors can protect both individual patients and public health.
With winter illnesses spreading across South Africa, doctors are once again highlighting the dangers of unnecessary antibiotic use and the growing threat of antibiotic resistance. According to the World Health Organization, antimicrobial resistance is among the top global public health threats facing humanity. Antibiotic-resistant infections were directly responsible for an estimated 1.27 million deaths worldwide in 2019 and contributed to nearly five million deaths overall. According to the latest data in South Africa in 2021, 8485 deaths were directly attributed to antibiotic resistance.[i]
“The misconception that antibiotics can treat every winter illness remains incredibly common,” says Lance Blumeris, Head of digital healthcare platform, Unu Health. “The reality is that many of the illnesses people experience during flu season are caused by viruses. Antibiotics are designed to treat bacterial infections and simply do not work against viruses.”
Healthcare professionals working on the Unu Health platform say many patients expect antibiotics for common colds, flu and other viral infections despite medical evidence showing that antibiotics offer little benefit in these situations. Doctors explain that prescribing antibiotics when they are not needed can contribute to antibiotic resistance, a process whereby bacteria evolve and become harder to treat with existing medicines. This means that infections that were once easily treatable could eventually become more difficult, more expensive and, in some cases, potentially life-threatening.
But if antibiotics are not the answer, what should patients do?
For many viral illnesses, the body’s immune system is capable of fighting off the infection naturally with time and supportive care. Rest, adequate sleep, good nutrition, staying hydrated and following medical advice can often be the most effective way to support recovery.
“Patients sometimes feel disappointed when they leave a consultation without a prescription,” says Blumeris. “But in many cases, the best treatment is allowing the body the time and support it needs to recover naturally. Rest, fluids and good self-care are often exactly what the body requires.”
Doctors also warn against using leftover antibiotics from previous illnesses or taking medication recommended by friends or family members.
Each infection should be assessed individually by a healthcare professional who can determine whether antibiotics are necessary.
In addition to contributing to resistance, unnecessary antibiotic use can also disrupt the body’s natural gut bacteria, potentially leading to digestive side effects and other health complications.
“Choosing not to prescribe antibiotics is not about withholding treatment,” says Blumeris. “It is about ensuring patients receive the most appropriate treatment for their specific condition while protecting the effectiveness of these vital medicines for future generations.”
For more information, please visit www.unuhealth.org