“Global Consumption of Antibiotics Skyrockets”

“Despite the threat of a global health crisis in antibiotic resistance, worldwide use of antibiotics soared 39% between 2000 and 2015, fuelled by dramatic increases in low-income and middle-income countries (LMICs).

This is according to a new study in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences (PNAS), which analysed human antibiotic consumption in 76 countries.

The study found that antibiotic consumption rates increased worldwide from 11.3 to 15.7 defined daily doses (DDDs) per 1,000 inhabitants per day between 2000 and 2015.

This study, which is the most comprehensive assessment of global trends to date, was conducted by researchers from the Center for Disease Dynamics, Economics & Policy (CDDEP), Princeton University, ETH Zurich and the University of Antwerp.

Antibiotic resistance is a global health problem; when it emerges in one place, it quickly spreads to other parts of the world. The study underscores the need for consistent global surveillance of antibiotic resistance and policies to curtail unnecessary antibiotic use.”

Source: E-Healthnews