The Minister of Social Affairs and Health recalled this again yesterday by presenting her roadmap against antibiotic resistance : France is one of the largest consumers of antibiotics in Europe with 100 million boxes of drugs reimbursed each year.
The day after the presentation of this plan, the High Authority for Health (HAS) is contributing its contribution by publishing recommendations on the proper use of antibiotics during the most frequent infections: nasopharyngitis, angina, childhood ear infection and adults, as well as urinary tract infections of the woman and the pregnant woman. These sheets, intended for general practitioners, recommend prescription schedules in order to improve drug management and avoid inappropriate prescriptions.
Choosing the right antibiotic and the right dosage
Beyond infections of viral origin, for which it is recalled once again that the antibiotics are not automatic, the HAS offers a summary of the elements making it possible to determine whether or not an antibiotic is necessary and then to choose the appropriate molecule and dosage (dose and duration).
Read also: Bacteria resistant to the most powerful antibiotics
For example, for those little seasonal ailments that are rhinos and tonsillitis :
• In the event of acute nasopharyngitis in a child: prescription of antibiotics not necessary.
• In the event of acute angina in a child under 3 years of age and in a child over 3 years of age with acute angina of viral origin: prescription of antibiotics not justified.
• For a child over 3 years of age suffering from acute bacterial angina (positive RDT): prescription of amoxicillin as a first-line treatment, except in the event of allergy to penicillins or contraindication to beta-lactams.
Discover the link to the others memo cards here.
Find out more:
Antibiotics kill 13,000 per year in France
Our special antibiotics file
