Extent of antibiotic use in Taiwan shown by antimicrobial activity in urine

doi:10.1016/S0140-6736(99)07446-2

The Lancet

Volume 354, Issue 9187, 16 October 1999, Page 1360

https://doi.org/10.1016/S0140-6736(99)07446-2 Get rights and content

Summary

Taiwan has high prevalence of antibiotic resistant, community-acquired respiratory pathogens. We investigated whether there was a high frequency of antibiotic use in the community. Antimicrobial activity in urine was detected in 55·2% of 1182 patients on arrival at an emergency department, 25·1% of 203 internal medicine out-patients, 7·6% of 471 high school students, and 7·4% of 202 people at a centre for senior citizens.

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There are more references available in the full text version of this article.

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In that same year, the estimated global amount of antibiotics used for food-producing animals was 63,151 (±1560) tons (Boeckel et al., 2015). Antimicrobials are prescription-only medications and their indiscriminate use can lead to the development of bacterial resistance, which is a major public health concern (Ferech et al., 2006; Liu et al., 1999; van Bijnen et al., 2011; Buke et al., 2003; Ahiabu et al., 2016; Al-Tawfiq et al., 2010; Costelloe et al., 2010; Vaananen et al., 2006; You et al., 2008; Mather et al., 2012). Using antibiotics in agricultural systems is a major contributing factor for resistance development in bacteria that may cause infections in humans (Molbak, 2004; Wassenaar, 2005).
The agricultural food products industry in Bangladesh depends on utilizing antimicrobials indiscriminately as growth promoters and for controlling infectious diseases. Thus, there is always a risk of antimicrobial agent accumulation in food sources that originate from agricultural production.
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Citation Excerpt :
Since some surveys reported that patients often do not know they were prescribed an antimicrobial, the true proportion of patients using antimicrobials is probably higher than reported.93 In support of this assumption, more widespread antimicrobial use was identified with urine sampling than with patient self-report.97,115–118 Expansion of internet commerce provides virtual worldwide access to non-prescription antimicrobials; those available on the internet are diverse and generally seem to originate in countries in which non-prescription antimicrobials are available.86
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Research LettersExtent of antibiotic use in Taiwan shown by antimicrobial activity in urine

Summary

J Clin Epidemiol

Resistance to antimicrobial drugs—a worldwide calamity

Ann Intern Med

Research Letters
Extent of antibiotic use in Taiwan shown by antimicrobial activity in urine