World Health Organization Warns of Widespread Misunderstanding of Superbug Threat NDTV
go to original February 18, 2016

Antibiotics and the Emerging Superbug Threat (Science Over Coffee)

People across the world are confused about the major threat to public health posed by drug-resistant superbugs and do not know how to stop that risk growing, the World Health Organization (WHO) warns.

Ramping up its fight against antibiotic resistance with a survey of public awareness, the United Nations health agency said 64 percent of those asked believed wrongly that penicillin-based drugs and other antibiotics can treat colds and flu, despite the fact such medicines have no impact on viruses.

Around a third of people surveyed also wrongly believed they should stop taking antibiotics when they feel better, rather than completing the prescribed treatment course, the WHO said.

"The findings point to the urgent need to improve understanding around antibiotic resistance," said Keiji Fukuda, the WHO's special representative for antimicrobial resistance.

"One of the biggest health challenges of the 21st century will require global behaviour change by individuals and societies."

Read the rest at NDTV

Related: 5 Myths About Antibiotic Resistance That Are Putting Us All at Risk (HuffPost)

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