Fallin antibiotic useshown inreport

A report has revealed that the total use of antibiotics in humans in Scotland has fallen by 17.1 per cent in the past five years.

This was one of the key findings made by Antimicrobial Resistance and Healthcare Associated Infection (ARHAI, part of NHS National Services Scotland) in their Scottish One Health Antimicrobial Use and Antimicrobial Resistance (SONAAR) in 2020 Report.

The reduction in antibiotic use reflects the combined efforts of health professionals working together with the public to ensure antibiotics are only prescribed when necessary. This limits the opportunity for infections to develop resistance to treatment.

The report also outlines that while antimicrobial resistance in humans is generally stable in Scotland, resistance has increased across some bacteria, while it also found antibiotic use in primary care has decreased by 20.9 per cent since 2016.