The more antibiotics are used, the higher the risk of developing resistant bacteria. According to the EU health authority, more than 35,000 people die every year from antibiotic resistance. A conscious use of antibiotics is therefore all the more important, according to experts.
According to estimates by the EU health authority ECDC, more than 35,000 people die every year in the European Economic Area due to antibiotic resistance. The health consequences are comparable to those of flu, tuberculosis and HIV/AIDS together, the Stockholm-based authority said in a report.
In addition to the 27 EU member states, the European Economic Area (EEA) also includes Norway, Liechtenstein and Iceland. The estimated number relates to the years 2016 to 2020 and shows an increase compared to previous estimates. “We are seeing worrying increases in the number of deaths attributed to infections with antibiotic-resistant bacteria,” said ECDC Director Andrea Ammon ahead of European Antibiotic Awareness Day.
More needs to be done to ensure that antibiotics are not used unnecessarily. Infection prevention and control practices also need to be improved. Around the European Antibiotic Awareness Day, attention is drawn to the prudent use of antibiotics in Europe, among other things.