Behavioral change is needed in reducing demand for antibiotics

Changing the norms regarding how antibiotics are perceived and used requires behavioural change. Limiting unnecessary antibiotic prescriptions in primary care settings is an important step in reducing bacterial resistance to antibiotics.

Also other alternative and complementary approaches to infection control and treatment is needed to help maintain the effectiveness of current and emerging antibiotics. These include particularly prevention and tracking of infections, improvement of antibiotic prescription, new drug development, vaccines (for both humans and animals) and rapid diagnostic tests.

Enough time has been wasted issuing warnings about antibiotic resistance. Level of ignorance about calamity that antimicrobial resistance is staggering. WHO survey from year 2016 across 12 countries found that 64 % of the public think that antibiotics also work for viral infections¹⁰. One-third of patients believe that antibiotics are effective against cold and flu and nearly two-thirds believe that acute bronchitis requires antibiotic treatment¹¹.

The moment has come to do something about it.