Letter.

Letter Published in The National UAE on 26April 18 Antibiotics should only be used when they’re neededI refer to Olivier Oullier’s opinion piece We can all do our bit to stop antibiotic overuse (April 25): this meaningful and thought-provoking article on the overuse of antibiotics in the UK and worldwide documents succintly how the medical profession and particularly general practitioners are relying far too heavily on antibiotics. This happens even when, in cases of virus for instance, they are utterly ineffective. Today antibiotics have become more resistant, in spite of so many new discoveries from the pharmaceutical industry. Now more than ever, it is important that we do not take antibiotics when we have no genuine need for them.K Ragavan, Bangalore