On Wednesday 21 October 2026, Luxembourg’s Ministry of Health and Social Security and Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Viticulture announced the publication of the 2024 Annual Report on Antibiotic Consumption, Antimicrobial Resistance and the Presence of Antibiotic Residues in Luxembourg.

According to the ministries, the annual report compiles the latest national data across the three areas of the “One Health” approach, which involves close collaboration between the human, veterinary and environmental sectors, as well as between countries.

According to the European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control (ECDC), infections caused by antibiotic-resistant bacteria are responsible for more than 35,000 deaths every year in Europe. Rigorous, up-to-date monitoring of the situation in Luxembourg is therefore essential to enable effective action and adapt public health measures.

Human health

According to the report, total antibiotic consumption in Luxembourg in 2024 was above the European average and has been increasing since 2021. General practice is the main sector for prescribing antibiotics, with a higher proportion of prescriptions among women. The observed resistance rates remain below the European averages in most cases.

In light of these findings, the ministries said that narrow-spectrum antibiotics (those targeting a limited number of bacteria, as opposed to broad-spectrum antibiotics) should be preferred wherever possible. Vaccination, hand hygiene, mask-wearing in recommended situations and preventive measures in healthcare facilities should also be strengthened. These actions all help reduce the transmission of infections.

Animal health and food safety

Sales of antibiotics for food-producing animals in Luxembourg have been declining since 2013. Resistance surveillance systems for these animals show generally favourable results, both compared with the European average and with neighbouring countries. Regarding food safety, tests for antibiotic residues in food and animal feed conducted in 2024 found no cases of non-compliance.

It is therefore recommended that the effectiveness of critically important antibiotics (antibiotics that should be reserved for treating certain infections because repeated use increases the risk of resistance) be preserved by limiting their use to cases where they are genuinely necessary. Antibiotic consumption in Luxembourg should also be monitored more closely by strengthening the collection and analysis of usage data, in order to obtain a more accurate picture of the national situation.

Environment

Antibiotic residues have been detected in surface water at varying frequencies and concentrations, but without exceeding the environmental quality standards proposed at European level for certain antibiotics. These standards specify concentrations in water that must not be exceeded in order to protect human health and the environment.

Conclusion

The available data highlight the importance of Luxembourg continuing its efforts to meet the European targets for combating antibiotic resistance in human health by 2030. Although two targets have already been achieved, including the reduction of certain resistant infections, further progress is needed to reduce antibiotic consumption and promote more appropriate use of these medicines.

Furthermore, the findings presented in this report demonstrate the value of establishing national surveillance across and within sectors to better understand the risk of antibiotic resistance spreading between species and sectors, and to guide preventive action more effectively.

In Luxembourg, this surveillance report was initiated as part of the first National Antibiotic Plan (PNA) for 2018–2022, which was extended until 2024. Its annual publication helps monitor the national situation and informed the development of the second PNA. In this context, Luxembourg will participate on 18 November 2026 in European Antibiotic Awareness Day and, from 18 to 24 November, in World AMR Awareness Week. This year's awareness campaign, led by the Ministry of Health and Social Security, will target healthcare professionals and their patients to promote the appropriate use of antibiotics and preserve their effectiveness.

The full report can be viewed (in French) at: https://santesecu.public.lu/fr/publications/r/rapport-surveillance-consommation-antibiotiques-luxembourg-2026.html