Antibiotic Use varies Widely Across Nations, Threatening effectiveness
This week marks World antimicrobial Resistance Awareness Week, highlighting a critical issue: our vital medicines are losing their power. Antibiotics,antivirals,antifungals,and antiparasitics – all designed to fight infections in humans,animals,and plants – are becoming less effective,a problem with global implications.
While some level of resistance is natural as bacteria and viruses evolve,human overuse of antibiotics dramatically accelerates this process. This leads to the development of “smart” bacterial strains that are no longer susceptible to treatment, jeopardizing the foundations of modern medicine – from treating common infections to performing complex procedures like chemotherapy and C-sections.
Recent data from the OECD reveals meaningful disparities in antibiotic prescription rates. In 2023, greece led with 26.7 daily doses prescribed per 1,000 people, nearly triple the rate seen in countries like Sweden and the Netherlands (8.7 and 8.8 doses respectively). The Netherlands ranks among the countries with the lowest antibiotic usage, trailing only Sweden, while the OECD average stands at 16 doses.
The trend isn’t entirely negative; many nations are seeing a slow decline in antibiotic use. Finland and Canada have demonstrated the moast ample reductions since 2013. Though, the OECD emphasizes a crucial point: antibiotics should only be prescribed when a clear bacterial infection is confirmed.
Beyond human prescriptions, antibiotic resistance is also fueled by practices in animal agriculture. In some countries, antibiotics are routinely administered to livestock for growth promotion or disease prevention. This practise can introduce resistant bacteria into the human food chain through meat and dairy products. In 2020, Thailand, China, and Australia reported particularly high levels of antibiotic use in livestock, contrasting sharply with countries like Norway, Sweden, and the United Kingdom, which employ more conservative approaches.
