19 July 2023
Antibiotics are too often used incorrectly. This contributes to antibiotic resistance, a global problem that grows every year. More attention to the appearance of medicines creates clarity and can reduce misuse, researchers from Radboudumc argue in the Lancet Global Health.
Antibiotics work very well against bacterial infections. But they are often used incorrectly. For example, people take the wrong antibiotics against an infection with a certain bacteria. They also use antibiotics against inflammation that does not involve bacteria, or as a pain reliever for menstrual pain or muscle pain. This is happening on a large scale, especially in less wealthy countries. And that is not good, because it contributes to antibiotic resistance. In doing so, the bacteria adapt, causing the antibiotic to lose its effectiveness. Antibiotic resistance is a very urgent and global problem that is growing every year. Researcher Annelie Monnier and medical microbiologist Heiman Wertheim of Radboud university medical center argue that the recognizability of different medicines plays a role in (in)correct use of antibiotics. According to them, more attention to the appearance of drugs can reduce antibiotic resistance.
QR codes on packaging
The researchers mapped antibiotic use in three Asian and three African countries. It showed that many people misuse antibiotics. This is due, for example, to the names under which antibiotics are known. In Vietnam, capsule is the literal translation of one of the words for antibiotics. In Mozambique and Ghana this applies to red-yellow; the colors of a capsule containing a commonly used antibiotic. But not every capsule contains an antibiotic or the same antibiotic. For example, two different types of antibiotics that work against completely different types of bacteria are both contained in red-yellow capsules. In addition, not every antibiotic is in a capsule. For example, there are also many antibiotics in tablet form.
‘That is why we have to move towards standardization and better information for users,’ says Monnier. ‘Consistent use of colors and symbols on pills can help. Logos and QR codes on the packaging are also a good option. Especially because in these countries there is often no information leaflet with medicines. Such a QR code then refers to a website with information about the medicine. With stickers that stick on a medicine box, for example, this is also easier and faster to implement than changes to the pills themselves. You can already pay with QR codes on the market in Thailand and Bangladesh, so they are already using this technology there.’
Clarity helps
These kinds of changes should be implemented worldwide. A huge operation, right? “Peanuts compared to the size of the problem and the costs associated with it,” says Wertheim. And it’s really achievable. For example, look at the corona pandemic. We were able to achieve a great deal worldwide in a short period of time. That should also be possible for this silent pandemic of antibiotic resistance.’
The researchers are in talks with the authorities involved, such as regulators and drug manufacturers. ‘It’s a slow process,’ says Wertheim. ‘Until recently they said: all we can do is put a warning on the box…. We think more is possible. As with so many things, clarity is key. As a result, people understand it better and they get more tools to use medicines correctly.’
About the publication
This research is published in the Lancet Global Health: Is this pill an antibiotic or a painkiller? Improving the identification of oral antibiotics for better use. . . . Monnier AA, NTT Do, Asante KP, Afari-Asiedu S, Khan WA, Sevene E, Tran TK, Nguyen CTK, Punpuing S, Gomez-Olive FX, van Doorn HR, Caillet C, Newton PN, P. Ariana, HFL Wertheim, named after the ABACUS II consortium. DOI: 10.1016/S2214-109X(23)00258-9.
2023-07-19 07:21:25
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