EU commissioner urges 'responsible' use of antibiotics

EU health commission Androulla Vassiliou has heralded the first European antibiotic awareness day as an opportunity to encourage “prudent use” of antibiotics.

The event, launched on Tuesday in Strasbourg during parliament’s plenary, comes as new data shows that the emergence of bacteria resistant to antibiotic treatments is increasing.

The pace at which antibiotics are losing their effectiveness against bacteria such as Escherichia coli (E. coli), a bacterium often causing urinary tract infections, is “alarming,” according to the European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control (ECDC).

A significant increase of antibiotic use has been reported in almost all member states in recent years, said ECDC’s director Zsuzsanna Jakab.

She said, “Today, all EU countries will be marking the first European antibiotic awareness day.

“The aim of this awareness day is to inform the general public about when and how to take antibiotics and why responsible antibiotic use is so important”.

The day is an annual European public health initiative to raise awareness about the problem of antibiotic resistance, and to provide information on how everyone can contribute to preserve the efficacy of antibiotics.

The ECDC say doctors, nurses, pharmacists, politicians and consumers need to be made aware of the dangers of improper use of antibiotics.

This year, organisers are  focusing specifically on the need for everybody to reduce any unnecessary use of antibiotics.

Vassiliou said, “From now on, 18 November will be seen as the day to focus our attention on the efforts made by all member states to encourage prudent use of antibiotics across Europe.

“Every citizen, healthcare worker, patient and consumer should be targeted and made aware of the dangers of improper antibiotic use.”
 
UK health minister Michael McGimpsey was among those who welcomed the event, saying, “It is important the public are aware that antibiotics do not cure all ills.

“In fact, the more often you use an antibiotic, the greater chance you have of building up a resistance to them.”

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