https://www.cidrap.umn.edu/news-per...n-survey-shows-need-more-antibiotic-knowledge
European survey shows need for more antibiotic knowledge
Filed Under:
Antimicrobial Stewardship
A survey published last week by the European Commission shows fewer Europeans reported taking antibiotics in the past year than in previous years, but many are taking them for the wrong reasons, and lack of knowledge about antibiotics remains a problem.
The results of the Eurobarometer survey, conducted from Feb 21 to Mar 21, 2022, reveal that 23% of Europeans say they have taken oral antibiotics in the previous 9 to 12 months, down from 32% in a 2018 survey and the lowest recorded level since the survey was first conducted in 2009. But the proportion of respondents who reported taking antibiotics varied widely—from 15% in Sweden to 42% in Malta. Roughly 8% of respondents said they had taken antibiotics without a prescription.
In addition, more than 30% of respondents reported taking antibiotics for illnesses that don't require them, such as cold (11%), flu (12%), and COVID-19 (9%), while others took them for illnesses that require additional testing, like bronchitis (12%). More than half of respondents (53%) said they didn't have a test to find out the cause of their illness before they started taking antibiotics.
When quizzed on their knowledge about antibiotics, only 50% knew that antibiotics are ineffective against viruses, while 62% knew that antibiotics are ineffective against colds. Only 28% answered all four antibiotic knowledge questions correctly. More than 8 in 10 (82%) were aware that unnecessary use of antibiotics makes them less effective, and 67% knew that taking antibiotics can lead to side effects like diarrhea.
EU Commissioner for Health and Food Safety Stella Kyriakides said the survey results highlight one of the reasons antimicrobial resistance has emerged as a major public health crisis.
"Antibiotics kill bacteria, not viruses. Overusing antibiotics feeds the resistance of bacteria to our medicines," Kyriakides said in a press release. "The survey we present today shows why this risk exists."
The authors of the report say improving public awareness about antibiotics and antimicrobial resistance will be crucial in efforts to reduce antibiotic overuse and misuse, and that education campaigns need to target people who have incomplete knowledge.
European survey shows need for more antibiotic knowledge
Filed Under:
Antimicrobial Stewardship
A survey published last week by the European Commission shows fewer Europeans reported taking antibiotics in the past year than in previous years, but many are taking them for the wrong reasons, and lack of knowledge about antibiotics remains a problem.
The results of the Eurobarometer survey, conducted from Feb 21 to Mar 21, 2022, reveal that 23% of Europeans say they have taken oral antibiotics in the previous 9 to 12 months, down from 32% in a 2018 survey and the lowest recorded level since the survey was first conducted in 2009. But the proportion of respondents who reported taking antibiotics varied widely—from 15% in Sweden to 42% in Malta. Roughly 8% of respondents said they had taken antibiotics without a prescription.
In addition, more than 30% of respondents reported taking antibiotics for illnesses that don't require them, such as cold (11%), flu (12%), and COVID-19 (9%), while others took them for illnesses that require additional testing, like bronchitis (12%). More than half of respondents (53%) said they didn't have a test to find out the cause of their illness before they started taking antibiotics.
When quizzed on their knowledge about antibiotics, only 50% knew that antibiotics are ineffective against viruses, while 62% knew that antibiotics are ineffective against colds. Only 28% answered all four antibiotic knowledge questions correctly. More than 8 in 10 (82%) were aware that unnecessary use of antibiotics makes them less effective, and 67% knew that taking antibiotics can lead to side effects like diarrhea.
EU Commissioner for Health and Food Safety Stella Kyriakides said the survey results highlight one of the reasons antimicrobial resistance has emerged as a major public health crisis.
"Antibiotics kill bacteria, not viruses. Overusing antibiotics feeds the resistance of bacteria to our medicines," Kyriakides said in a press release. "The survey we present today shows why this risk exists."
The authors of the report say improving public awareness about antibiotics and antimicrobial resistance will be crucial in efforts to reduce antibiotic overuse and misuse, and that education campaigns need to target people who have incomplete knowledge.