Over-prescribing of antibiotics is a major contributor to increasing levels of antibiotic-resistant infections, and antibiotic prescription rates rise every winter.
New data from the charity Antibiotic Research UK (ANTRUK) and Costello Medical shows how the annual rise in winter prescribing can be reduced. To sustain this reduction in prescribing, ANTRUK is launching its ‘What’s Bugging You This Winter?’ campaign, calling on everyone to understand the role that they can play in tackling antibiotic resistance.
The new data demonstrates that the usual increase in GP antibiotic prescribing of over 20% from summer to winter was reduced to an increase of just 4% during the pandemic winter of 2020–21, illustrating the scale of over-prescribing that usually occurs in winter.
The new campaign launched recently aims to inspire everyone to play their part in reducing unnecessary antibiotic prescribing.