Have you got food poisoning? Forget asking your GP for antibiotics, as scientists reckon garlic is not only great at fighting vampires – it also beats food poisoning.

Researchers from the Washington State University discovered that garlic is 100 times more effective than two commonly used antibiotics when it comes to treating poisoning caused by the most common source of bacterium: campylobacter.

The study discovered the garlic compound 'diallyl sulfide' was able to penetrate through the bacterium’s slimy biofilm layer and kill the cell by shutting down its growth and metabolism.

However, antibiotics erythromycin and ciprofloxacin did not have the same ability.

"This work is very exciting to me because it shows that this compound has the potential to reduce disease-causing bacteria in the environment and in our food supply," said lead author Dr Xiaonan Lu, in a statement.

Adding to this, Michael Konkel, a co-author who has been studying this particular type of food poisoning for 25 years, said: "This is the first step in developing or thinking about new intervention strategies.”

The study results were published in the Journal of Antimicrobial Chemotherapy.

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• How To Prevent Catching Illnesses

• Wash Your Hands

  Wash your hands frequently and thoroughly with soap and water, particularly after using the toilet and before preparing food.

• Don't Share Flannels Or Towels

  Avoid sharing flannels and towels with anyone who has had or has the superbug, or anyone who may be exposed to it in any way.

• Disinfect Surfaces

  Disinfect any surfaces or objects that could be contaminated with the virus. Wash the items separately and on a hot wash to ensure that the virus is killed.

• Keep Your Toilet Clean

  Keep the toilet and surrounding area clean and disinfected to avoid any cross-contamination.

• Avoid Raw, Unwashed Food

  Avoid eating raw, unwashed produce and only eat oyster from a reliable source. <a href="http://www.huffingtonpost.com/mobileweb/1969/12/31/three-quarters-british-oysters-norovirus-winter-vomiting-bug_n_1118617.html" target="_hplink">Note that oysters are known to carry the virus.</a>