Global antibiotic use reduced significantly during the COVD-19 pandemic, but increase projected to continue through 2030
By Elana Gotkine HealthDay Reporter
MONDAY, Dec. 2, 2024 (HealthDay News) — Globally, antibiotic consumption increased 16.3 percent from 2016 to 2023 and is projected to continue increasing through 2030, according to a study published online Nov. 18 in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences.
Eili Y. Klein, Ph.D., from the One Health Trust in Washington, D.C., and colleagues estimated national-level trends in antibiotic consumption in 67 countries during 2016 to 2023 and analyzed the effects of economic growth and the pandemic. Assuming current trends continue, global health consumption was estimated and growth was projected through 2030.
The researchers found that from 2016 to 2023, estimated antibiotic consumption in reported countries increased 16.3 percent, from 29.5 to 34.3 billion defined daily doses (DDDs), reflecting a 10.6 percent increase in the consumption rate from 13.7 to 15.2 DDDs per 1,000 inhabitants per day. Upper- and lower-middle income countries had the most pronounced increases. Globally, consumption was reduced significantly by the COVID-19 pandemic, with the most pronounced reduction seen in high-income countries; reductions in antibiotic use in 2020 were sharper and lasted longer in these countries than in other countries. Without reductions in rapidly developing nations, by 2030, it is projected that global antibiotic consumption will increase by 52.3 percent from an estimated 49.3 billion in 2023 to 75.1 billion DDDs.
“Policies are urgently needed to promote increased antibiotic access and ensure that antibiotics are not misused or overused in the process,” the authors write. “In addition, greater emphasis is needed globally on preventing transmission of infections to reduce the need for antibiotics, particularly the most effective drugs.”
Several authors disclosed ties to the biopharmaceutical industry.
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