The World Health Organization (WHO) has sounded a warning about the declining effectiveness of antibiotics due to their misuse, which is giving rise to drug-resistant bacteria. This trend could potentially lead to an estimated 10 million deaths worldwide by the year 2050, according to the organization’s latest report.
The WHO’s European study revealed that antibiotics were often prescribed for ailments such as the common cold, flu-like symptoms, sore throats, and coughs, instead of bacterial infections, which they are designed to treat.
This study, conducted across 14 countries in Eastern Europe and Central Asia, highlighted the misuse of antibiotics for non-bacterial issues, contributing to the development and spread of superbugs.
WHO’s Division of Communicable Diseases Director, Robb Butler, emphasized the importance of enforcing regulations to prevent the misuse of these vital drugs, citing that a third of the surveyed individuals had taken antibiotics without a medical prescription.
The report also pointed out the alarming lack of public awareness regarding antibiotics. It noted that a significant portion of respondents had used antibiotics without understanding their proper usage or for inappropriate reasons.
This underscores the urgent need for education and awareness campaigns about the prudent use of antibiotics to preserve their effectiveness and curb the growing threat of antimicrobial resistance.
Source: AFP