The World Health Organization (WHO) cautioned about the diminishing effectiveness of antibiotics due to their misuse, leading to the emergence of resistant bacteria.
This trend could potentially result in an estimated 10 million deaths globally by 2050.
This alert surfaced on Thursday following a WHO-conducted survey on antibiotic usage.
The WHO’s European segment conducted a study revealing that antibiotics were being prescribed for conditions such as the common cold (24 percent of cases), flu-like symptoms (16 percent), sore throats (21 percent), and coughs (18 percent).
The survey encompassed 14 countries, predominantly situated 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 said.
The WHO’s European region comprises 53 countries, 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,” Robb Butler, director of WHO Europe’s Division of Communicable Diseases, said in a statement.
WHO warned that without immediate intervention, resistance to antimicrobials which includes antibiotics could lead to up to 10 million deaths a year by 2050.
It cited incorrect prescription as a “cause for concern,” adding that in all the 14 countries, a third of the roughly 8,200 people surveyed had taken antibiotics without a medical prescription.
In some countries, over 40 percent of antibiotics were used without medical advice.
In contrast, an equivalent survey conducted in the European Union in 2022 showed that only eight percent of respondents took antibiotics without a prescription.
The WHO also noted that there were severe gaps in people’s knowledge about antibiotics, meaning they could be taking antibiotics for the wrong reason without realizing it.
“This research clearly shows the need for education and awareness raising,” Butler said.
(AFP)
