Belgium launches campaign to raise awareness of resistance to consider
At the start of World Antimicrobial Stewardship Week (November 18 to 24), the FPS Public Health is launching a new awareness campaign that invites citizens and health professionals to “speak deliberatelyMore than 35,000 Europeans die each year from antimicrobial resistant infections, according to recent figures from the European Center for Disease Prevention and Control (ECDC).
“Antimicrobials are valuable medicines. Recommend them, in particular, help our body to fight certain bacterial infections and they are absolutely essential to treat certain patients.“, recalls the federal public service. “However, bacteria can be able to resist these treatments or become so, especially when they are used inappropriately.“
Figures in Belgium
In Belgium, only 59% of those questioned know that they are not effective against the virus, points out the FPS Public Health on the basis of a Eurobarometer carried out among 25,511 Europeans, among more than 1,000 Belgians.
“Three out of 10 Belgians are aware that they lose their effectiveness if they are used without reason, that you should only stop taking them after the complete treatment, that they often cause side effects such as advantage, and that they are not effective against colds“, continues the federal public service.