The indiscriminate use of antibiotics will lead to antibiotic resistance, increasing mortality rates in common medical procedures.
A new study released by the Global Respiratory Infection Partnership (GRIP) during Antibiotic Awareness Week reveals that people worldwide have a high level of dependence on antibiotics, especially when treating common respiratory illnesses such as sore throat.
Scientists indicate that there are many misconceptions regarding sore throat treatment that lead to antibiotic abuse. Some individuals cannot distinguish between bacterial and viral throat infections, resulting in the reckless use of antibiotics. This situation causes some bacteria to become drug-resistant, known as antibiotic resistance, which is an increasing global concern.
“We are rapidly exhausting the supply of antibiotics necessary to treat critical infections that were previously curable,” said Dr. Martin Duerden, a medical advisor at Cardiff University in Wales and a representative of GRIP, on December 27.
This means that procedures once considered safe, such as joint replacement surgery, heart surgery, neonatal care, childbirth, and cesarean sections, have become significantly riskier. The development of new antibiotics is not keeping pace with the bacteria’s adaptation rates.
Additionally, the study indicates that people turn to antibiotics at the first sign of mild symptoms like a sore throat mainly due to anxiety.
Many people self-prescribe antibiotics for sore throat even when the illness is viral. (Photo: Freepik)
Researchers surveyed 12,000 individuals across 12 countries, aged 18 to 64, who had experienced respiratory illnesses in the past six months. More than half of the volunteers reported using antibiotics even for mild illnesses like a sore throat. This habit is particularly prevalent among those under 35 years old. 45% of individuals in this age group stated they did not know of any alternative treatment for sore throat aside from antibiotics.
“This work emphasizes the need to improve awareness regarding antibiotic use in many countries, highlighting that antibiotics should be viewed as a scarce and vital resource, only to be used for patients with severe infections,” Dr. Duerden noted. According to him, about 90% of sore throat cases will resolve on their own without the need for antibiotics.
Antibiotic resistance is one of the leading causes of death in most countries. An analysis of the global disease burden indicates that in 2019, there were approximately 4.95 million deaths related to antibiotic resistance, with 1.27 million deaths directly attributed to the lack of effective antibiotics.
This rate is highest in sub-Saharan Africa, South Asia, and Eastern Europe. Other studies have found that this is a growing global issue, particularly rampant in China.
Vietnam is also among the countries with the highest rates of antibiotic resistance in the world, with 1/3 of the antibiotics used in the country deemed “inappropriate,” leading to drug resistance. This information was presented by experts at a seminar in early November.
According to Dr. Duerden, young people tend to misuse antibiotics because they do not understand that most serious illnesses are caused by viruses, with only a small percentage caused by bacteria. Both types of common sore throat can resolve within a week thanks to the immune system.
