WHO | WHO Report on Surveillance of Antibiotic Consumption

WHO | WHO Report on Surveillance of Antibiotic Consumption

WHO warns about overuse of antibiotics

The WHO is raising a new alarm about overuse and misuse of antibiotics, which is fueling the growing threat of antimicrobial resistance. Here’s a rundown of the organization’s new report:

• The background: The organization analyzed data from 65 countries and areas and turned up wide discrepancies in how commonly antibiotics are used.
• The details: In Burundi, home to the lowest rate of antibiotic use, there were an average of four doses of antibiotics given per 1,000 people each day, compared to more than 64 doses per 1,000 people each day in Mongolia, which had the highest rate.
• The takeaway: That disparity suggests some countries are overusing antibiotics, while others can't always access the medicine when it's needed. That's of particular concern in low- and middle-income countries, where deaths due to infectious disease remain high and antibiotic use remains low.