Special Eurobarometer: Use of Antibiotics Declining in the European Union but Much Work Still Needed

According to the Special Eurobarometer 407,‘Antimicrobial resistance’ published in November 2013, most Europeans (84%) are aware that the overuse of antibiotics makes them ineffective.

However, the general knowledge of Europeans about antibiotics remains quite low and results in the misuse of these drugs. The survey concludes that media campaigns are efficient sources of information but that they need to be targeted better in order to reach the desired audience and that the public regard healthcare workers and pharmacies as trusted sources of information for advising on the proper use of antibiotics.