Warning issued on over-use of antibiotics

AN increasing number of potentially deadly illnesses can no longer be treated by antibiotics, due to over-use.

Once so-called wonder drugs are now not as affective against some strains of HIV, sexually transmitted diseases, pneumonia and meningitis.

Up to three years ago, Ireland was one of only three countries in the EU where the use of antibiotics was increasing, despite warnings from health exerts. Since then it has dropped slightly but it is still rated as being too high.

The organisation charged with keeping track of antibiotic use throughout Europe — the European Surveillance of Antimicrobial Consumption (ESAC) — has warned that resistance to a key penicillin (streptococcus pneumoniae) in Ireland has increased from 10% to 18% over the six years to 2010.

The EU has nominated today Antibiotic Awareness Day to draw attention to the fact over-use is killing one of the most effective medicines known. Penicillin had revolutionised the treatment of many frequently fatal diseases, including TB.

The over-use is creating super-bugs for which there is no current cure and doctors are being forced to prescribe alternative medicines with a risk of side-effects.

Science Commissioner Máire Geoghegan Quinn said a sizeable sum from her €50 billion budget will be available to researchers and the pharmaceutical industry to develop new medicines.

As well as developing new super drugs, Health Commissioner John Dalli has also launched a five-year action plan that aims to make doctors and the general public more aware of the issues.

He said the public must learn to know what infections should and should not be treated with antibiotics.