People use too many antibiotics – level 3

27-01-2025 15:00

Antibiotic resistance is a global health crisis, worsening due to misuse, with 30–50% of prescriptions being unnecessary.

New tests involving a finger-prick test and throat swab offer hope. A finger-prick test identifies infection severity and likelihood of bacterial origin within 2–3 minutes, while a throat swab detects Group A Streptococcus with 100% accuracy. These might help doctors decide whether antibiotics are necessary and ensure precise treatment.

Globally, such tests have reduced antibiotic use by up to 40–60%. A researcher from Deakin University in Melbourne is testing them locally to reduce misuse, guide doctors in prescribing antibiotics correctly, and assist governments in combating antibiotic resistance. If these tests prove cost-effective, they might be used widely and could help fight antibiotic resistance.

Difficult words: resistance (the ability to resist treatment), swab (a small piece of soft material, often attached to a stick, used for collecting a sample from the body), precise (exact, accurate).

You can watch the video news lower on this page.

What are the potential benefits of the finger-prick test and throat swab in combating antibiotic resistance, and how have they been shown to reduce antibiotic use globally?

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