The World Health Organisation (WHO) issued a stern warning highlighting the detrimental consequences of antibiotic misuse, citing its impact on diminishing their effectiveness and contributing to the rise of antibiotic-resistant bacteria.
The WHO’s cautionary message, revealed on Thursday, comes in the wake of a survey conducted by the WHO’s European chapter on antibiotic usage patterns.
The findings of the study revealed concerning trends, indicating that antibiotics were frequently prescribed for conditions such as the common cold (24 per cent), flu-like symptoms (16 per cent), sore throat (21 per cent), and cough (18 per cent).
The comprehensive survey encompassed 14 countries, primarily situated in Eastern Europe and Central Asia, shedding light on widespread antibiotic misuse and its prevalence across various ailments.
“While AMR (antimicrobial resistance) is a natural phenomenon, the development and spread of superbugs are being accelerated by the misuse of antimicrobials, rendering infections more challenging to treat effectively,” a statement said.
The WHO’s European region comprises 53 countries, including several in Central Asia.
“All countries in our region have regulations in place to protect precious antibiotics from misuse… Enforcing these regulations would solve most antibiotic misuse,” Robb Butler, director of WHO Europe’s Division of Communicable Diseases, said in a statement.
WHO warned that without immediate intervention, resistance to antimicrobials, which includes antibiotics, could lead to up to 10 million deaths a year by 2050.
It cited incorrect prescriptions as a “cause for concern,” adding that in all 14 countries, a third of the roughly 8,200 people surveyed had taken antibiotics without a medical prescription.
In some countries, over 40 per cent of antibiotics were used without medical advice.
In contrast, an equivalent survey conducted in the European Union in 2022 showed that only eight percent of respondents took antibiotics without a prescription.
The WHO also noted that there were severe gaps in people’s knowledge about antibiotics, meaning they could be taking antibiotics for the wrong reason without realising it.
“This research clearly shows the need for education and awareness-raising,” Butler said.
AFP
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