The European Day for the Prudent Use of Antibiotics, which is celebrated every November 18, is part of the World Antibiotic Resistance Awareness Week, declared by the World Health Organization (WHO). On this occasion, a group of 12 students were involved in an information campaign aimed at students and professionals of the University, and coordinated by Professor Gabriel Reina, from the School of Pharmacy and Nutrition. 

Located at two points core topic of the area of Sciences (the Hexagon Building and the Library Services), they distributed along the workshop information brochures and explained to those who approached how every year the magnitude of the problem increases. "On the tables we have put a big number: 3,000. This is the issue number of people who die annually in Spain from infections caused by multidrug-resistant bacteria. This figure represents a high healthcare cost (around 150 million euros) and could rise. In fact, there are forecasts that by the year 2050 there could be 10 million deaths globally, displacing cancer as the leading cause of death," explains Professor Reina.

To avoid this, experts are committed to prevention based on the correct use of antibiotics, using them only under medical prescription, and explaining that there are multiple common respiratory infections caused by viruses (such as influenza) against which antibiotics are ineffective, as they are only capable of eliminating bacteria. "Self-medication should be avoided, fill in the treatment cycles according to the prescription and dispensing them only with a doctor's prescription. But we must also emphasize two basic preventive measures: frequent hand washing and receiving all the recommended vaccinations to avoid bacterial infections," says Reina.