China lowers use of antibacterial drugs

BEIJING -- Antibacterial utilization has decreased in the last five years in China, according to a health report.

The use of antibacterial drugs for inpatients decreased to 39.1 percent in 2015 from 67.3 percent in 2010, and that for outpatients dropped to 9.4 percent from 19.4 percent, said a report by the National Health and Family Planning Commission (NHFPC)

Antibacterials also formed a smaller percentage of total pharmaceutical revenue from 2010 to 2015, and expenditure on antibacterials per capita declined, the report said.

The report was made based on research in over 180 general hospitals and 11 special hospitals.

By 2015, China had 12 training centers for microbial drug-resistant bacteria, with about 200 professionals having received training.

Abuse of antibiotics will give rise to new strains of hardy bacteria that can live and even thrive despite use of drugs.

"Super bacteria" will complicate treatment, bring higher death rates, and increase health expenditure, said Zhang Zongjiu, an official with the NHFPC.

In August, the NHFPC issued a national action plan to tighten supervision over antibiotic production, sale and use.