Coronavirus pandemic has reduced consumption of antibiotics in Finland – considerable differences between hospital districts
The coronavirus pandemic has reduced consumption of antibiotics in Finland. A similar phenomenon is noticeable in several other European countries as well. In 2019–2020 total consumption of antimicrobial drugs declined in EU/EEA countries by 16.6 percent and in Finland, by 19.3 percent.
This comes out in fresh follow-up reports on the consumption of antimicrobials, which were released on November 18, European Antibiotic Awareness Day.
“In the coronavirus period, consumption of antibiotics has been affected by factors including difficulties in availability of basic health care services, the cancellation of non-urgent surgeries, and the reduction of hospitalisations of patients with protracted diseases”, says researcher Katja Koukkari at the Finnish Institute for Health and Welfare (THL).
Avoiding social contacts, promoting hand hygiene, coughing etiquette, and travel restrictions have reduced incidence of all respiratory tract infections and intestinal infections. This explains the decline in consumption of antibiotics in out-patient care.
Consumption differs from one hospital district to another
The good news is that total consumption of antibiotics continues to decline in all hospital districts in Finland. There are large regional differences, however.
The differences can be seen especially in consumption of piperacillin-tazobactam and antifungal medications. In areas where piperacillin-tazobactam is used the most, the amounts are as high as four times that of areas where consumption is lowest. With antifungals the differences in consumption are nearly double, at the highest.
Consumption of antibiotics is monitored to see the possible problem areas and to identify and launch measures to reduce consumption.
“The regional monitoring and reporting on antimicrobial consumption needs to be improved in Finland. If hospital districts are not aware how antibiotics are used in the area's hospitals and out-patient care, for example, it is impossible to intervene in the matter. Identifying heavy consumption means that treatment practices can also be re-evaluated. In this way consumption of broad-spectrum antimicrobial medications - those that are effective against many different bacterial species - could be reduced”, says THL Chief Physician Emmi Sarvikivi.
Difference with other Nordic Countries has narrowed
In the other Nordic Countries, consumption of antibiotics has traditionally been lower than in Finland. However, the difference has continued to narrow.
- In Finland, consumption of penicillins is considerably lower than in Sweden and Norway, except for combination products (penicillin and beta-lactamase inhibitors) as well as first, and second-generation cephalosporins.
- Consumption of carbapenems was significantly higher in Finland than in the other Nordic Countries in 2019.
- However, consumption of third generation cephalosporins was lower than in Sweden and Norway.
Monitoring of the use of antimicrobials is an important part of fighting antimicrobial resistance. Resistance weakens the effectiveness of antibiotics, which can make it more difficult to treat even ordinary infections, and treatment becomes longer and more costly.
In Finland consumption of antimicrobials is monitored both nationally, and as part of the monitoring network coordinated by the European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control ECDC. Monitoring is based on information from the sales registries of drugs. In 2020 all 27 EU countries and two EEA countries sent their consumption information to the monitoring network.
Further information
Consumption of antimicrobials in Finland 2013-2020 report (in Finnish)
THL
Consumption of antimicrobials in Europe report
ECDC
European Antibiotic Awareness Day 18 November (in Finnish)
THL
Surveillance of antimicrobial resistance (in Finnish)
THL
Katja Koukkari
researcher
THL
[email protected]
Emmi Sarvikivi
Chief Physician
THL
[email protected]
