Fact Sheet
Abstract
Introduction
Antibiotics are medicines used to prevent and treat bacterial infections. Antibiotic resistance occurs when bacteria change
in response to the use of these medicines.
Bacteria, not humans, become antibiotic resistant. These bacteria may then infect humans and are harder to treat than
non-resistant bacteria.
Antibiotic resistance leads to higher medical costs, prolonged hospital stays and increased mortality. In the European
Union alone, drug-resistant bacteria are estimated to cause 25,000 deaths and cost more than US$1.5 billion every year in
healthcare expenses and productivity losses. The world urgently needs to change the way we prescribe and use antibiotics.
Even if new medicines are developed, without behaviour change, antibiotic resistance will remain a major threat. Behaviour
changes must also include actions to reduce the spread of infections through vaccination, hand washing and good food
hygiene.
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