People should learn not to take antibiotics unnecessarily, especially if all they had were slight symptoms, such as a cough or sniffles, or a common cold or flu, Health Parliamentary Secretary Joe Cassar has warned.

His advice comes as research has shown that antibiotic resistance is on the increase because people across Europe, Malta included, are abusing such medicines.

Many did not finish their prescribed course of antibiotics, change the dose or even administer their own medicine, Dr Cassar, a psychiatrist by profession, said.

Although pharmacists were not allowed to dispense antibiotics without a prescription, many Maltese asked for specific brands as soon as they noticed a few symptoms. "And if the pharmacist doesn't give it to them, they will go to another one until they get it," he added.

The practice is leading to new diseases, which are resistant to antibiotics. Dr Cassar's comments came on European Antibiotics Awareness Day, which this year also marks the 50th anniversary since the invention of penicillin, the first antibiotic to be administered.

The health authorities took the opportunity to launch their own local awareness campaign against the misuse of antibiotics, especially to treat cold and flu. They are ineffective in almost 90 per cent of cold and flu cases, which are viral and, therefore, not susceptible to antibiotics.