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On Monday 18 November 2024, Luxembourg’s Ministry of Health and Social Security and Luxembourg’s Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Viticulture launched European Antibiotic Awareness Day in the Grand Duchy.
This forms part of World Antimicrobial Awareness Week, which is taking place from Monday 18 to Sunday 24 November 2024.
This initiative aims to raise awareness among the public, healthcare professionals and pet owners of the risks associated with the inappropriate use of antibiotics, which contributes to the increase in antibiotic resistance. Antibiotic resistance is the ability of bacteria to develop resistance to antibiotics, making certain infections more difficult or impossible to treat. The ministries noted that this resistance is mainly due to excessive and inappropriate use of antibiotics in humans and animals, leading to prolonged hospitalisations and increased mortality. Each year, more than 35,000 deaths in Europe are caused by infections due to multidrug-resistant bacteria.
In 2023, human consumption of antibiotics for systemic use in Luxembourg was estimated at 18.7 defined daily doses (DDD) per 1,000 people in the community setting, up from 17.6 DDD in 2022. Human consumption in the hospital setting in 2023 was 1.5 DDD per 1,000 people, an increase from 1.4 DDD in 2022. DDD is the most used measure to report on drug use. It is defined by the World Health Organization (WHO) as being equal to the average maintenance dose per day for a drug used in adults for its primary indication.
European Regulation 2019/6, which has been in force since 2022, imposes reinforced measures for the correct use of antibiotics in animals, and recognises the essential role of veterinarians in ensuring the correct use of antibiotics. The 2023 data on the consumption of veterinary antimicrobials in Luxembourg are currently being analysed by the European Medicines Agency (EMA), with the report "European Union Summary Report on Antimicrobial Sales and Use (ASU) for Animals" planned for 2025.
To limit antibiotic resistance, the Plan National Antibiotiques (National Antibiotic Plan) 2018-2024 adopts a "One Health" approach, integrating human, animal and environmental health. According to this approach, it is essential to use antibiotics only on medical prescription, to avoid self-medication, to follow treatments to the end (as prescribed) and not to share antibiotics. Vaccination, hand hygiene and food hygiene measures are to be encouraged to avoid infections requiring the use of antibiotics.
An awareness campaign to encourage responsible use of antibiotics is underway, in partnership with the Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Viticulture and partners. This campaign, which has the slogan: "Antibiotics, let's use them well, let's preserve their effectiveness", targets health professionals, veterinarians, farmers, pet owners and the general public, and will be accompanied by messages broadcast on social networks.
