Next month will see the return of the Antibiotic Amnesty campaign to encourage pet owners to return unused and out-of-date pet antibiotics to their place of purchase.
The second annual campaign, led by a collaboration of UK veterinary organisations, practice chains and charities, aims to educate owners about antimicrobial resistance (AMR) and raise awareness of the importance of the safe use and disposal of the medicines.
Irresponsible use of antibiotics can lead to dangerous side effects, delay an accurate diagnosis, and contribute to antimicrobial resistance (AMR), whereby bacteria develop a resistance to the drugs due to over-exposure in their natural setting. Inappropriate disposal of unused antibiotics also damages the environment, impacting water quality and wildlife, according to the campaign.
Fergus Allerton, a vet working in the Midlands, who is again helping coordinate the amnesty, said: “We are delighted to be running the veterinary antibiotic amnesty again this November, and are encouraging as many pet owners as possible to take part by returning their unused and out-of-date antibiotics to their local vet practice. The veterinary profession is committed to not only the responsible use of antibiotics to help treat pets when appropriate, but also to the safe disposal of these important medicines and we want to help and support owners to do this.
“Antimicrobial resistance is a world-wide health threat and occurs when bacteria develop resistance to the effects of antibiotic treatments, making treatment for people and animals less effective.”
He added: “When it comes to disposal, studies show that leftover antibiotics are rarely returned to vets and are more commonly disposed of in household waste or down sinks and toilets. This could potentially contribute to AMR and have a negative impact on water quality, aquatic life and wildlife.”
The Antibiotic Amnesty is taking place during the entire month of November, overlapping World Antibiotic Awareness Week (November 18-24). A range of educational materials including leaflets, posters and animations, are available to support the amnesty.
