My Tiny Feed

lemonde.fr

France Sees Decline in Antibiotic Use

Antibiotic consumption decreased in France in 2023, following a two-year rise, but remains high compared to other European countries. Disparities persist among different groups, highlighting the need for continued public health efforts.

Read original article in French

French

France

HealthFrancePublic HealthHealthcareResistanceAntibiotics

Santé Publique France (Spf)French National Health Insurance (Sécurité Sociale)

Dr. Caroline Semaille

What specific data points support the trend in antibiotic usage?: The decrease is evident in prescriptions (820.6 per 1,000 inhabitants, a 0.2% decrease from 2022) and consumption (a 3.3% decrease in daily doses per 1,000 inhabitants). While encouraging, France remains a high consumer compared to other European nations.
What was the overall trend of antibiotic consumption in France in 2023?: In 2023, France saw a decrease in antibiotic consumption in primary care after two years of increase. This follows a moderate but consistent downward trend observed since 2013, before the COVID-19 pandemic.
Which types of healthcare providers showed increases or decreases in antibiotic prescriptions?: General practitioners reduced prescriptions in 2023, but specialists and dentists increased their use of antibiotics. The most commonly prescribed antibiotics were amoxicillin, amoxicillin/clavulanic acid, and macrolides.
Were there any significant disparities in antibiotic use across different demographics or regions?: Despite the overall decrease, disparities remain based on age, sex, and region. Consumption was lower in children under 5, stable in those 15-64, and increased in those over 65. Women and certain regions showed higher consumption.
What is the significance of antibiotic consumption reduction and what public health actions are being taken?: France's high antibiotic consumption contributes to the rise of antibiotic-resistant bacteria. A public health campaign will relaunch in November to emphasize the proper use of antibiotics, only when medically necessary for bacterial, not viral, infections.

Jun 4, 19:13

Infant Mortality Rate Rises in Multiple EU Countries

The infant mortality rate increased in at least eight EU countries in 2024, with Romania and France showing significant rises, exceeding the EU average; contributing factors include staff shortages, maternity ward closures, increasing maternal age, and geographic inequalities in healthcare access.

Jun 4, 16:14

TikTok Blocks "#skinnytok" Hashtag Over Eating Disorder Concerns

TikTok has blocked the search term "#skinnytok", redirecting users to mental health resources due to concerns about its promotion of unhealthy weight loss and disordered eating behaviors; this follows pressure from eating disorder charities and experts, and the move has been welcomed in France.

Jun 3, 19:18

Measles Outbreak in Europe: Romania Reports Thousands of Cases

Measles cases in Europe are surging; Romania leads with 3,605 infections and three deaths by late April 2025 due to low vaccination rates (62%), anti-vaccine sentiment, and a struggling medical system; other EU countries also report increases, highlighting the need for widespread vaccination.

Jun 2, 19:16

French Court Awards €325,000 for Androcur's Failure to Warn of Meningioma Risk

A French court ordered Bayer, Viatris, and Sandoz to pay €325,000 to a woman who developed meningiomas after taking Androcur for over 20 years due to their failure to adequately warn her about this risk, a ruling that could affect future legal actions.