Global Antibiotic Consumption Is Increasing

Between 2000 and 2015 the global use of antibiotics increased by 65%, primarily in low- and middle-income countries.

One of the apparent drivers of the increasing prevalence of multidrug-resistant microorganisms is the overuse of antibiotics. As these microorganisms are readily spread via international travel (NEJM JW Gen Med Oct 1 2015 and Clin Infect Dis 2015; 61:593), to fully understand this relationship requires global data on antibiotic consumption — information that has been limited to date. Now, researchers have estimated the defined daily doses (DDDs) of antibiotics sold in 76 countries using the IQVIA MIDAS database that includes information on national sample surveys of antibiotic sales to assess the use of each antibiotic molecule.

From 2000 to 2015, global antibiotic consumption increased by 65%, from 21.1 to 34.8 billion DDDs. Although during…

Reviewing Author

Richard T. Ellison III, MD

Disclosures

Consult/Advisory BoardAcurx Pharmaceuticals, LLC;

Grant/Research SupportDoctors Company Foundation, Massachusetts Department of Public Health

Richard T. Ellison III, MD

Disclosures

Consult/Advisory BoardAcurx Pharmaceuticals, LLC;

Grant/Research SupportDoctors Company Foundation, Massachusetts Department of Public Health

Global Antibiotic Consumption Is Increasing

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Reviewing Author