To address growing concerns over antibiotic resistance and its impact on both human and animal health, as well as the environment, the Ministry of Health and the Ministry of Agriculture have joined forces to collaborate on a National Antibiotics Plan to reduce the impact of antibiotics in the Grand Duchy. In accordance with the plan's recently published first surveillance report, the Luxembourgish government calls to significantly reduce the prescription of antibiotics.

Antibiotics are intended for use only in cases of bacterial infections, yet this guideline is not always adhered to. Dr. Therèse Staub from the Higher Council for Infectious Diseases (CSMI) has been investigating the issue of wrongful antibiotic  prescriptions as part of her work within the National Antibiotics Plan.

Dr. Staub notes that the problem often arises when general practitioners face uncertainties in diagnosing whether an infection is bacterial or viral. In these situations, the fear of missing a bacterial infection can lead to the precautionary prescription of antibiotics, even when they might not be necessary.

To address this issue, Dr. Staub emphasises the importance of conducting specific tests to determine the nature of an infection before resorting to antibiotics. For example, she points out that antibiotics are not required for treating viral infections such as the flu.

Compared to EU Member States, Luxembourg ranks average

In many Member States, antibiotics are hardly ever prescribed. In southern Member States, however, antibiotics are prescribed more than usual. Luxembourg ranks in the middle of the pack. Dr. Staub emphasises that increased awareness is needed, as prolific antibiotic use leads to higher resistance levels, not only in humans but also in animals.

Therefore, Dr Staub highlights the necessity of a collaborative approach as the environment and agriculture also play a role. Excessive use of antibiotics can cause bacteria to become resistant, rendering the medication ineffective. Dr. Félix Wildschutz describes this as a public health issue, noting that resistance can transfer between animals and humans and vice versa. This means that every party involved has a role to play and a responsibility to bear.

Self-medicating is a major problem

In veterinary medicine, there has been a noticeable reduction in antibiotic use in recent years, and this trend should continue. The goal is to reduce antibiotic use by 5 to 10 percent annually.

A significant issue, both in humans and animals, is self-medication. This occurs when people use leftover antibiotics for themselves, their children, or their pets without consulting a doctor or veterinarian.

Dr. Staub also advises against using antibiotics left at home, as there is no rule of thumb for how often antibiotics should be taken in a year. The best approach is to use them as sparingly as possible.

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