Switzerland: The World Health Organisation (WHO) has issued a warning that the misuse of antibiotics is denting their efficacy and spawning resistant bacteria which could be responsible for 10 million deaths worldwide by 2050.
This warning came following a survey on the use of antibiotics conducted by the WHO. A study carried out by the WHO’s European chapter revealed that antibiotics were prescribed for common colds (24 percent of cases), flu-like symptoms (16 percent), sore throats (21 percent), and coughs (18 percent).
The survey was carried out in 14 countries, mostly in Eastern Europe and Central Asia. “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 remarked.
There are 53 nations in the WHO’s European region, 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,” Mr. Robb Butler, Director of WHO Europe’s Division of Communicable Diseases, said in a statement.
WHO warned that in the absence of prompt action, resistance to antimicrobials which includes antibiotics could lead to up to 10 million deaths a year by 2050. It said that improper prescriptions were a “cause for concern,” noting that one-third of the approximately 8,200 respondents in all 14 countries had taken antibiotics without a prescription. In some countries, more than 40 percent of antibiotics were used without a doctor’s recommendation.
According to the WHO, there are significant gaps in people’s awareness of antibiotics, which means that they may be taking antibiotics for the wrong reason without realising it.
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