Over-prescribing of antibiotics is a major contributor to increasing levels of antibiotic-resistant infections, with antibiotic prescription rates rising every winter.
Now, 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.
Seasonal increases in illnesses such as colds and influenza have typically been met by a significant rise in antibiotic prescription rates. However, antibiotics don’t treat viral infections which are often the cause of these illnesses.
Professor Colin Garner, Chief Executive of ANTRUK, commented: “This new data shows that it is possible to avoid the usual winter increase in antibiotic prescribing. Although typical cough symptoms can take up to three weeks to resolve, we also know that antibiotics for most respiratory tract infections (your typical cough, sore throat, earache) do not speed up recovery times. Instead, they often give patients many side-effects, and promote the development of antibiotic-resistant bacteria.”