Almost all countries overuse antibiotics, contributing to drug resistance: Analysis
A new study published in The Lancet Public Health reveals that most countries are overusing 'watch' class antibiotics, which exacerbates global drug resistance. Researchers have developed a new framework to help nations better manage their antibiotic usage based on specific socio-economic clusters.
Why it matters
Antibiotic resistance is a critical global health threat, and this tool provides a standardized method for countries to align their medical practices with WHO guidelines.
A study that has estimated which and how many antibiotics a country could be expected to ideally use has found that almost all countries are overusing 'watch' antibiotics, which contribute the most to antibiotic resistance when overused.
The 'watch' class is composed of stronger drugs that should be saved for conditions where simpler antibiotics won't work. The analysis is published in The Lancet Public Health journal.
Researchers, including those from the UK's University of London, have developed a framework, which they said can give countries a practical tool to assess whether their antibiotic use is broadly appropriate for their situation.
The method can also help address both overuse and the wrong use of certain antibiotics, they said.
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