New research reveals sore throat, antibiotic overuse driving the third leading cause of death worldwide

A new global study launched during World Antimicrobial Awareness Week (WAAW, 18-24 November) shows that high reliance on antibiotics to treat respiratory conditions such as sore throats is driving up antibiotic resistance, the third leading cause of death globally, linked to 4.
95 million deaths each year
.

A sore throat and antibiotic resistance (STAR) study commissioned by the Global Respiratory Infections Cooperative (GRIP) and Strepsils manufacturer Reckitt found that more than half of the adults surveyed had taken antibiotics for respiratory conditions in the past six months, although antibiotics were ineffective
against 90% of sore throats.
Upper respiratory tract infections are the leading cause
of antibiotic misuse in adults worldwide.

The STAR findings suggest that misconceptions about how to treat sore throats are fueling the overuse
of antibiotics.
61% of adults under the age of 35 believe that antibiotics are effective in treating sore throats, and nearly half (45%) of this age group do not know how to treat respiratory conditions without using
antibiotics.
This high level of confusion may explain why 38% of people under the age of 35 are anxious
about receiving treatment for respiratory conditions, such as sore throats, without the use of antibiotics.

However, this anxiety is mostly wrong
.
Almost all sore throats do not require antibiotics because they are caused
by a viral rather than a bacterial infection.
Patients often experience greater symptom relief
from the use of anti-inflammatory throat lozenges and painkillers.

During the WAAW, GRIP (an expert-led program to educate healthcare professional stakeholders on antibiotic misuse in respiratory diseases) urged the public to lead the way in fighting abuse by asking healthcare experts whether antibiotics are appropriate and to consider alternative treatments and symptom mitigation
.

Commenting on the study, Professor Sabiha Essack, Chairman of GRIP, said: "The results of this study are worrying because people under the age of 35 – our future leaders and workers – mistakenly believe that antibiotics are effective for all sore throats and colds, and they may not be aware of the consequences
of improper antibiotic use on a personal and public health level.
GRIP calls for increased awareness and education about the appropriate use of antibiotics and urges young people to ask questions to help fight antibiotic resistance
.
”