ANTIBIOTICS are the target of the latest campaign to be launched by York health bosses.

North Yorkshire and York Primary Care Trust (PCT) is backing a national campaign to discourage overuse of the drugs.

The message to spread is that antibiotics will not get rid of coughs and colds, and if overused will destroy their effectiveness.

Dr David Fair, of Jorvik Medical Practice, in York, said the ultimate fear was that another "superbug" like MRSA could be created.

He said: "If antibiotics are overused, bacteria can find ways of adapting and becoming resistant to them, which means in future they will not work.

"That's how MRSA developed. It was a bacterium that became resistant to all the drugs available, so there was nothing left to treat it.

"Obviously, antibiotics are only available on prescription in this country, but what we need to do is discourage patients from expecting to receive antibiotics every time they get a cough or a cold.

"These are infections caused by viruses and cannot be treated by antibiotics.

"Antibiotics kill bacteria that cause infections such as pneumonia, some forms of tonsillitis and bronchitis and some skin infections."

C Difficile is another super bug for which antibiotics are to blame.

Dr Fair said: "Some people have very small amounts of C Difficile in their bowels.

"This is usually completely harmless, but when you take strong antibiotics to kill other bacteria, it can cause C Difficile to overgrow and cause symptoms."

Posters and leaflets are being distributed to GP surgeries and pharmacies as part of the campaign - reminding people that antibiotics are not always the answer.

Patients are also being warned that if they are prescribed antibiotics they should not stop taking them as soon as the symptoms fade, and must always finish the course unless a doctor or pharmacist advises otherwise.

According to the Department of Health, antibiotic resistance is more likely to develop if antibiotics are not taken regularly or taken in too low a dose.

In 2006/7 the NHS spent a massive £175.8 million on antibiotics prescribed in the community.