In the future if someone becomes ill they may have to spend longer in hospital and the only choice may be to use less effective drugs with greater side effects. The worse case scenario is that the condition may even be untreatable. It's true that new and more powerful antibiotics can be developed but this takes time and bacteria are not going to wait around for this to happen. They are quicker than us at keeping one step ahead. Don't automatically expect antibiotics From now on when you visit your GP you'll be prescribed antibiotics much less often.
Antibiotics only work against bacteria and are useless against viruses.
The vast majority of sore throats, ear infections, coughs and colds are caused by viruses, not bacteria. So when your GP diagnoses a virus infection don't insist on antibiotics. Taking antibiotics for the wrong reason will help the bacteria to become resistant. It may also cause you unpleasant side effects, give you thrush, and leave your body open to far more dangerous infections. Hospital specialists who advise GPs about which antibiotics to use to successfully treat bacterial infection constantly monitor bacteria in the local area.