Recent report reveals antibiotic use in humans continues to fall
Antimicrobial Resistance and Healthcare Associated Infection (ARHAI) Scotland published the Scottish One Health Antimicrobial Use and Antimicrobial Resistance (AMR) in 2021 Report in November 2022.
The report highlights that the total use of antibiotics in humans in both primary care and hospital settings has continued to fall over a five-year period – a 16.9% decrease between 2017 and 2021.
The reduction in antibiotics being used reflects the combined efforts of health professionals working together with the public to ensure antibiotics are only prescribed when necessary.
Another key finding was that AMR in humans has remained largely stable between 2020 and 2021.
Adopting a One Health approach that encompasses antibiotic use and resistance in humans, animals, environment and food – and the interactions between them – is essential to tackle AMR effectively.
While AMR in both humans and animals was largely stable between 2020 and 2021, ARHAI Scotland are keen to stress the vital importance of human and animal health professionals continuing to work together to prevent infections and preserve the effectiveness of antibiotics. Ensuring antibiotics are used only when necessary limits the opportunity for resistance to develop and for infections which are resistant to treatment to spread.
Read the full report here:
Scottish One Health Antimicrobial Use and Antimicrobial Resistance in 2021 (nhs.scot)