COPENHAGEN, November 27 ------ Misuse of antibiotics is denting their efficacy and spawning resistant bacteria, which could be responsible for millions of deaths around the world by 2050, the World Health Organization (WHO) warned.
WHO's European chapter conducted a study which showed that antibiotics were prescribed for things like the common cold (24 percent of cases), flu-like symptoms (16 percent), a sore throat (21 percent) and a cough (18 percent). The WHO's European region is made up of 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.
The United Nations' health agency 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," saying that in all the 14 countries polled, a third of the roughly 8,200 respondents had taken antibiotics without a medical prescription.
In some countries, over 40 percent of antibiotics were used without medical advice. "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. In contrast, an equivalent survey conducted in the European Union in 2022 showed that only 8 percent of respondents took antibiotics without a prescription. The WHO also said there were severe gaps in people's knowledge about antibiotics, meaning they could be taking antibiotics for the wrong reason without realizing it. "This research clearly shows the need for education and awareness raising," Butler said.
Source: manilatimes.net
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