HAMPSHIRE GPs are leading the way tackling strains of deadly superbugs resistant to antibiotics, a study reveals.

Figures reveal doctors in the county are among those working the hardest to combat the problem by slashing millions of non-urgent antibiotics prescriptions.

New statistics reveal that NHS West Hampshire Clinical Commissioning Group (CCG) has reduced the number of antibiotics prescriptions by 26,000 in just one year – a drop of 7.5 per cent and an above average reduction compared to other trusts.

Nationally the total number of antibiotics prescribed by GPs is down by 7.3 per cent over the period – a total of 2,696,143 fewer items in total.

It follows a major NHS drive aimed at reducing the number of patients given the drugs to stem the rise of superbugs which are harder to treat.

Antibiotics are used to treat or prevent some types of bacterial infection and work by killing bacteria or stopping them from reproducing and spreading.

But their overuse can lead to new strains of ‘antibiotic resistant’ bacteria which can lead to the emergence of superbugs which are more immune to the medication.

Health chiefs are urging doctors to reserve antibiotics for very serious infections or for persistent conditions which are unlikely to clear up without them.

Previously they were being used for many minor conditions – leading to the drugs becoming less effective to treatments.

GPs in the West Hampshire CCG area – which manages how money is spent on health services – have already prescribed 10 per cent fewer antibiotic prescriptions compared to the nationwide average for England.

CCG medicines management director Dr Emma Harris, who is also a local GP, said: “It’s vital that antibiotics are prescribed and used in the right way.

"Antibiotic resistance might sound a bit complicated, but it’s very serious because we do not want antibiotics to become less effective. If new strains of bacteria emerge, we need existing antibiotics to be effective in treating them.”