World Health Organisation (WHO) has issued a warning about the diminishing effectiveness of antibiotics due to their misuse, a trend that could result in 10 million global deaths by 2050.
This caution comes in response to a WHO survey on antibiotic usage.
The survey revealed that antibiotics were often prescribed for conditions such as common colds (24 percent of cases), flu-like symptoms (16 percent), sore throats (21 percent), and coughs (18 percent), as outlined in a report by the WHO’s European branch.
Conducted in 14 nations, primarily in Eastern Europe and Central Asia, the study underscores the urgent need to address the misuse of antibiotics to combat the growing threat of antibiotic resistance.
“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.
“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.
The World Health Organisation (WHO) issued a warning that, in the absence of prompt action, antibiotic resistance among antimicrobials could result in up to 10 million annual deaths by 2050.
It added that a third of the 8,200 respondents worldwide have taken antibiotics without a prescription, citing improper prescriptions as a “cause for concern.”
Over 40% of antibiotics were prescribed without a doctor’s recommendation, highlighting a concerning trend in their misuse.
In contrast, a 2022 poll conducted in the European Union indicated that only 8% of participants reported using antibiotics without a prescription.
The World Health Organization (WHO) noted significant gaps in people’s understanding of antibiotics, suggesting that individuals might be unintentionally taking these medications.
This underscores the need for improved awareness and education on the appropriate use of antibiotics.
“This research clearly shows the need for education and awareness-raising,” Butler said