Romania ranks 6th in the world for antibiotics consumption

Romania ranked 6th in the world in 2015 for the consumption of daily doses of antibiotics per inhabitant, according to the study “Global increase and geographic convergence in antibiotic consumption between 2000 and 2015” published by Preoceedings of The National Academy of Sciences of The United States of America ( pnas.org).

The countries in the world with the highest consumption of antibiotics per inhabitant were Turkey, Tunisia, Spain, Greece, Algeria, Romania, Belgium and France.

“In 2015, four of the six countries with the highest consumption rates were low and middle-income countries (Turkey, Tunisia, Algeria, and Romania,” the study says.

The analysis of antibiotic consumption patterns over time and across countries could inform policies to optimize antibiotic prescribing and minimize antibiotic resistance, such as aiding investments in alternatives to antibiotics.

In this study were analyzed the trends and drivers of antibiotic consumption from 2000 to 2015 in 76 countries and projected total global antibiotic consumption through 2030.

Between 2000 and 2015, antibiotic consumption, expressed in defined daily doses (DDD), increased 65 percent (21.1–34.8 billion DDDs), and the antibiotic consumption rate increased 39 percent (11.3–15.7 DDDs per 1,000 inhabitants per day.

The report on antibiotic use in 76 countries over 16 years provides an up-to-date comprehensive assessment of global trends in antibiotic consumption.

The study revealed that the antibiotic consumption rate in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs) has been converging to levels typically observed in high income countries.

Global antibiotic consumption increased by 65 percent between 2000 and 2015, from 21.1 to 34.8 billion DDDs, while the antibiotic consumption rate increased 39 percent from 11.3 to 15.7 DDDs per 1,000 inhabitants per day over the study period.