A Nationwide Campaign in France to Reduce Antibiotic Use

Overuse of antibiotics is a major force driving the emergence and dissemination of bacterial resistance. France has the highest rate of β-lactam–resistant Streptococcus pneumoniae in Europe and one of the highest rates of antibiotic consumption in the world. The French government launched a program in 2001 to contain antibiotic overuse and a public campaign in 2002 entitled “Antibiotics Are Not Automatic.” These efforts targeted healthcare professionals through various educational programs, and the public through television spots and advertisements. They highlighted the negative consequences of antibiotic overuse and emphasized that antibiotics offer no benefit for simple respiratory viral infections.

To evaluate the effects of this campaign…