Antibiotics: they are still consumed too much!

Although the consumption of antibiotics has fallen sharply over the past ten years, France is still the fourth European country that consumes the most of these drugs. And while antibiotic prescription figures fell in 2020, due to the Covid-19 pandemic, consumption among 0-4 year olds started to rise again, almost at the same level as in 2019.

Not effective on viral infections

Faced with these figures, Public Health France wishes to recall the use “prudently and wisely” which must be made of antibiotics and recalls the risks of resistance, in the face of misuse. It also denounces the received ideas that persist:

• More than 7 out of 10 French people (77%) think “that they are effective in the event of acute bronchitis, more than 65% in the event of bronchiolitis, 55% in the event of viral angina and 53% in the event of influenza, whereas antibiotics are ineffective on these infections due to viruses“;
• More than 1 in 2 French people (54%)”thinks taking antibiotics for a sore throat is recommended” (while more than 80% of angina are viral);
• 50% believe that “antibiotics help you get back on your feet faster“;
• 44% of them consider it to be “better to take antibiotics when you want to get back to work quickly“.

Tips for using antibiotics properly

Finally, Public Health France recalls a few simple rules for the proper use of antibiotics. Here are a few :

• Please note that antibiotics are only effective against bacterial infections and have no effect on infections caused by a virus;
• Any antibiotic intake must be preceded by a medical prescription;
• The duration of antibiotic treatment must always be strictly adhered to;
• Any remaining antibiotics must be returned to the pharmacy;
• Never reuse antibiotics for yourself or your loved ones, even if the symptoms are the same.

If you want to know more about the subject, you can go to the site www.antibiomalin.fr