A QUANTUM OF SCIENCE
French government program educates about the danger of overuse of antibiotics
From 2002-2007 the French government has operated a program aimed at reducing the use of antibiotics for flu-like symptoms after a report came out showing that France used more antibiotics per capita than any other European nation. Called "Antibiotics are not Automatic" this program targeted overuse of antibiotics for flu-like symptoms, especially among the young. Now a report has been released showing the results of this program. Briefly, overall antibiotic use was down an average of 26% in all regions of the country and for all antibiotic categories (except quinolones). Remarkably, this reduction was even more pronounced among children (35%) and most of all in instances of those complaining of flu-like symptoms (45%). The important thing about this study is that broad health education can work on an entire population and over a reasonable period will result in major adjustment of behavior. Also worth noting is that the information used in the study was obtained through the online electronic database of French medical records, a system not unlike that which is being built by US government funding at present.
For more information:
Significant Reduction of Antibiotic Use in the Community after a Nationwide Campaign in France, 2002–2007 (Sabuncu et al)
© A Quantum of Science / P. Smalley
Reproduction with attribution is appreciation
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