'I'm a medical expert and the UK is draining antibiotics - there's only one way to stop it'

The UK is draining antibiotics and there's only one way to stop it, a health expert has warned. RSV infections lead to 640,000 antibiotic prescriptions a year according to analysis from the UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) and the Imperial College London and Oxford Population Health . A study has highlighted ways to reduce RSV infections - including a vaccine programme which could reduce antibiotic prescription and resistance.

Research found RSV (respiratory syncytial virus), leads to mild respiratory symptoms, can cause more serious illness and hospitalisation. Antibiotics medics say do not work for viruses, and are prescribed in primary care as it is often not possible to determine if the infection is bacterial or viral. Researchers examined data from GP antibiotic prescriptions alongside laboratory-confirmed respiratory infections from 2015 to 2018 to understand the number of antibiotic prescriptions attributable to RSV.



Data found around 2.1% of antibiotic prescriptions from English GPs were attributable to RSV infections. The largest amount were prescribed to those more than 75 years old and the highest rate was in infants.

A vaccination programme for RSV was launched in September. It will be offered to those turning 75 on or after 1st September, with a one-off campaign for 2024/25 for those aged 75 to 79 years old. Pregnant women are also offered the vaccine once they reach 28 weeks, and their immunity passed to their newborn.

it means there could be 70,000 fewer RSV illnesses in infants under 12 months and 60,000 fewer illnesses in older adults who are eligible because of vaccination. Dr Lucy Miller, co-author of the study and Modeller at UKHSA, said: "To tackle antibiotic resistance we need to ensure antibiotics are being used only when necessary. But we also need to drive down infections, to reduce the need for antibiotics in the first place.

"This study highlights that the introduction of the new RSV vaccine programme could not only help reduce the risk of infections in vulnerable individuals, but also contribute towards a reduction in antibiotic prescribing and antibiotic resistance in the population overall. At UKHSA we continue to monitor antibiotic prescribing trends and the impact of interventions." Professor Céire Costelloe, senior author on the research said: "This study provides the first estimate of RSV-attributable primary care antibiotic prescriptions by antibiotic class, using nationally representative primary care and microbiology surveillance data.

Importantly, our study suggests that interventions to reduce the burden of RSV infections in England, such as vaccines, could complement current strategies to reduce antibiotic use nationally. Steve Russell, NHS national director for vaccinations and screening, said: "We know that antimicrobial resistance is a huge threat to public health globally and it is important we do everything we can do to slash unnecessary antibiotic usage, including by reducing the number of people who end up seriously ill with viruses. "This research is a step forward in demonstrating the impact the RSV vaccine can have, over and above preventing tens of thousands of fewer illnesses this year in those most at risk, so please do take up the offer of the jab if you are aged 75 to 79 or if you are over 28 weeks pregnant – it could prevent you or your baby from becoming seriously ill.

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