On the occasion of European Antibiotics Awareness Day on 18 November, the Belgian press focuses on the use of antibiotics in our country. There is good and bad news: while doctors make fewer prescriptions for antibiotics, they often suggest the wrong type of antibiotics to their patients.
The frequent use of antibiotics in Belgium was a real problem, but awareness campaigns are starting to pay off. Over the past 10 years, the use of antibiotics has gone down with one third.
"At one stage, we were among Europe's frontrunners, but now we are among the best pupils in the class", explains microbiologist Herman Goossens, a professor working at the UZ Antwerpen hospital who is presenting a study on the use of antibiotics in the EU today.
However, apart from the good news there is also another aspect to the case. Belgian doctors often prescribe the wrong type of antibiotics, which target different bacteria at a time. "Patients taking this kind of medicine, have the risk that the resistant bacteria will be automatically stimulated", Mr Goossens explains.
Another disadvantage is that it has a number of side effects, and that this type of strong antibiotics is rather expensive. "Instead of using a bazooka, you can also shoot with a small gun. This is also efficient, it has fewer side effects and it is cheaper."