The misuse of antibiotics poses a significant threat to their efficacy and is contributing to the development of antibiotic-resistant bacteria, warned the World Health Organization (WHO).
According to a study conducted by WHO’s European chapter in 14 countries, antibiotics were often prescribed for conditions such as the common cold, flu-like symptoms, sore throat, and cough, which are primarily caused by viruses and not bacteria.
The misuse of antibiotics accelerates the development and spread of antibiotic-resistant superbugs, making infections more challenging to treat.
“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.
In some countries, over 40 percent 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.