The Health Service Executive is launching a new campaign to raise awareness on the correct use of antibiotics, marking a day of awareness on the issue across Europe.
The key message of the campaign is that antibiotics are wasted on viral illnesses, such as colds and flu, and are of no benefit to those suffering from them.
Health experts insist that action needs to be taken to curb growing resistance to antibiotics.
If taken when not needed, it enables bacteria to become resistant to the medication, which in turn leads to more serious infections.
The HSE says this means that antibiotics may not work for infections where they are really needed, such as blood stream infections and pneumonia.
It wants the public to be aware that bacteria are developing resistance faster than scientists can develop new antibiotics.
Consultant Microbiologist, Dr Fidelma Fitzpatrick, says we need to wage a war on the growing resistance to antibiotics.
Otherwise, she says, we will be back to an era where people become gravely ill or die because we have run out of effective medication.
Dr Fitzpatrick said if we do not take action now, we risk wasting one of the most important medical advances of the past 100 years.
President of the Irish Pharmacy Union Darragh O’Loughlin said antibiotics are not effective against viruses, and ones such as the common cold and sore throats will ultimately clear up on their own.
He said taking antibiotics for the wrong reason, or taking them incorrectly, can cause bacteria to develop resistance against antibiotics, which has consequences for their future use.
