Antibiotics cannot cure infections caused by viruses. However, antibiotic use increases sharply each year during flu season.

Surveys show that 64% of the European population mistakenly believe that acute respiratory viral infections and influenza can be treated with antibiotics. Consequently, many people use antibiotics to treat upper respiratory tract infections, including in children under 3 years of age. Antibiotics can indeed be used to treat some cases of secondary bacterial infections, but they have no effect on the influenza virus. Influenza usually resolves on its own; if not, it can be treated with antiviral medications.

Antibiotics must be used with caution to preserve their effectiveness when they are truly needed. To guide physicians on which antibiotics should be used to treat the most common infections and which should be reserved for more serious illnesses, the WHO Model List of Essential Medicines divides antibiotics into three categories: available, controlled, and reserved.

- Accessible medications include antibiotics, which are first- and second-line treatments for the most common infections. These medications should be widely available.

- The group of controlled drugs includes classes of antibiotics that should be prescribed only when there is a specific indication due to a higher risk of bacteria developing resistance.

- The reserve fund group is used as a last resort.

Source: WHO Regional Office for Europe