Thinking of asking your doctor for antibiotics? Think again | Sarah Boseley

In the war between bacteria and antibiotics, the bugs are winning. Yet still we delude ourselves that there are pills for all ills

Such is our faith in modern medicine that many of us, it seems, are reluctant to walk out of the GP’s surgery without a prescription of some sort. We believe there are pills for all ills. If pressed to name the miracle drugs that will cure every infection, many of us will undoubtedly say “antibiotics”.

For the last 60 years, antibiotics have indeed been wonder drugs, curing diseases such as pneumonia that used to be major killers. But widespread prescription is putting them – and us – at risk. The drugs are losing their potency as the bugs they once exterminated become resistant to them. This week doctors were urged by a healthcare advisory body to snoop on their colleagues. The National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (Nice) said GPs should monitor the prescribing of their partners in case they are being overenthusiastic with the antibiotics.

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