Why I'm supporting the Pfizer UK Superbug Campaign -

I am working with BritMums to support the Pfizer UK Superbug campaign and have been compensated for my time.

If there is one thing we know about in our house it’s germs, superbugs and antibiotics. From Autumn through to Spring our lives seem to be a neverending cycle of illness with the children catching one bug after another which ultimately ends up with a visit to the doctors and yet another course of antibiotics.

For those who have followed us for a while, you will be well aware that Megan, aged six, has been on antibiotics almost continuously her entire life. From low-dose preventative antibiotics for recurrent kidney infections, to high strength ten-day courses for countless episodes of tonsillitis, she has reached a point where the antibiotics no longer work effectively due to her body building up a resistance. And that is really quite terrifying!

So when I was asked to support the Pfizer UK Superbug campaign, it felt like the perfect opportunity to share with others the importance of using antibiotics responsibly and raising awareness of superbugs.

There is no denying that antibiotics have saved millions of lives since they were first discovered and yet the WHO characterises antimicrobial resistance (AMR) as one of the biggest threats to global public health today. In fact it has been said that superbugs could kill us all before climate change does and when I look at Megan and see exactly that happening before my eyes, I can absolutely believe this.

Antibiotic resistance occurs naturally, accelerated by misuse in both humans and animals, where the bacteria survives exposure to a medicine that would ordinarily have killed them. We call these superbugs, something I’m sure many of us have heard of before, and even more worryingly, these superbugs can be fatal for those with weakened immune systems.

So what can we do to ensure we use antibiotics responsibly and avoid building up this resistance to superbugs?

1. Only use antibiotics when they are absolutely necessary

Obviously there are cases when antibiotics are the only option and getting the right advice from the doctor is always paramount, especially when it comes to our children. At the same time, when treating ailments like colds and flu we can do this without resorting to antibiotic treatment and instead stick to the basics such as paracetamol, drinking warm honey and lemon, facial steaming to relieve sinus pressure, and taking lots of rest.

2. Make sure your vaccinations are up to date

Making sure that vaccinations are up to date is so important in fighting bugs and keeping our immune systems as strong as possible which, in turn, can protect us from needing more antibiotics. Although we are all very familiar with the importance of vaccinating our children, we still need to remain up to date with vaccinations throughout adult life. You can speak to your doctor about any concerns you have regarding your vaccinations.

3. Teach children the importance of hand hygiene

No matter how much we try, children will come into contact with germs every day and that’s why it’s so important to teach them the importance of hand hygiene, more specifically washing their hands effectively and consistently. A great tip for teaching little ones is to remember that once you have washed your hands in warm water you must soap and lather for about 20 seconds which is the time taken to sing “Happy Birthday” twice over.

We need to teach our children to wash their hands in this way after using the bathroom, touching animals or playing with pets, coughing or sneezing, playing outside, coming home from school and always before eating. As a parent it’s also worth carrying a hand sanitiser for occasions when there are no hand washing facilities available.

4. Spread the word

It might sound simple but just spreading the word about antibiotic resistance is so important and should we continue the way we are the reality is that millions of lives will potentially be lost by 2050. We all have a role to play in the fight against these superbugs and by following these basic steps we can really make a huge difference.

For our family, and particularly for Megan, we are hopeful that once she undergoes a tonsillectomy her healthy will improve massively and in turn the passing of bugs between herself and her siblings will naturally lessen. Of course post-surgery it is going to be even more important to control the spreading of germs in our house and I am already making plans for how we will do this. We have been advised to keep her indoors as much as possible for two weeks post-op and avoid contact with other people where possible. It’s going to be hard but knowing what I know about AMR, it’s absolutely vital we stick to this.

As a Mum, I just want to see my children healthy first and foremost and I hate to think of a time when my children may really need antibiotics and they are ineffective. I hope you will join me in raising awareness of AMR, you can find out more details here on the Pfizer website.