A treatment regimen consisting of a high initial dose followed by an extended tapering of doses is found to optimise the use of antibiotics. This consistently improves the success of eradicating infections, uses less antibiotic than traditional regimens and reduces the time to eradication.

How do you optimize antibiotics?

Take the antibiotic exactly as the doctor prescribes, even if you start to feel better. Do not skip doses or stop taking an antibiotic early unless your doctor tells you to do so. Only take antibiotics prescribed for you; do not share or use leftover antibiotics. Antibiotics treat specific types of infections.

What are the advantages of restricting antibiotic use?

If bacterial spread between patients is significant, the advantages of deliberately using the restricted antibiotics can outweigh the disadvantages, and lead to fewer instances of bacteria resistant to all available drugs in the long term as well as more effective treatment in the short term.