Antibiotic Prescriptions in Germany Surge Past Pre-Pandemic Levels

New data reveals a significant rise in antibiotic use, raising concerns over resistance, particularly with reserve antibiotics.

Germany saw a 2023 total of 36.1 million antibiotic prescriptions, a nearly 18.4% increase from 2022 and above pre-pandemic levels.
Reserve antibiotics, critical for treating resistant infections, accounted for 43.4% of all prescriptions, slightly higher than in 2022 but below 2019 levels.
Experts warn that the increased use of reserve antibiotics could exacerbate antibiotic resistance, with 15.7 million prescriptions issued nationwide in 2023.
Hamburg reported the lowest rate of antibiotic prescriptions per 1,000 patients in Germany, while Saarland had the highest, highlighting regional disparities.
Antibiotic use in livestock continues to decline, with 2023 marking the lowest recorded level since tracking began in 2011.