According to a new report by the public health science institute Sciensano, the use of antibiotics in Belgium has fallen by 14% during the past 10 years. Sciensano describes this development as “encouraging”, but at the same time stresses that the European targets are not currently being met.
Antibiotics are medicines used to fight bacteria. However, excessive or incorrect use of antibiotics can lead to resistance, meaning that bacterial infections become much more difficult or even impossible to treat.
The European Union has therefore set a target of reducing the number of daily doses per 1,000 population to 17.5 by 2030. However, according to Sciensano, we are still a long way from achieving this.
In 2023, the consumption of antibiotics in Belgium stood at 20.6 daily doses per 1,000 population. If current trends continue, the European targets will not be met.
The Sciensano report also shows that on average the use of antibiotics in hospitals has increased in recent years. However, its use for the treatment of outpatients has actually decreased. Sciensano concludes that “Harmonising practices between hospitals could contribute to a more rational use of antibiotics”.