According to a study by Public Health France based on reimbursements of prescriptions by health insurance, the consumption of antibiotics increased significantly in 2022, contrary to the downward trend observed since 2012. The increase is notable both in terms of prescriptions (+16.6%) than doses consumed in town (+14%).
Despite the Covid-19 pandemic which initially led to a drop in consumption, the upward trend observed over the past two years brings antibiotic consumption back to 2019 levels. The decrease observed in 2020 did not persist, and the resumption of common winter infections contributed to this increase.
Antibiotic consumption among children has particularly increased in 2022, even exceeding pre-pandemic levels. The 2022-2023 season was marked by a triple epidemic of influenza-bronchiolitis-Covid, as well as other viral pathologies, influencing the consumption of antibiotics, especially at the end of the year.
Beyond age groups, regional disparities persist, with Corsica and Provence-Alpes-Côte d'Azur displaying higher consumption, while Pays de la Loire and the overseas departments are among the less consumers.
Despite the efforts made to raise awareness of the proper use of antibiotics, France remains one of the top five European countries with the largest consumers of antibiotics. This overconsumption is worrying due to the risks of antibiotic resistance, highlighting the importance of judiciously reducing the use of these drugs to preserve their long-term effectiveness.
Public Health France plans to rebroadcast a campaign on the proper use of antibiotics in December to raise awareness of this crucial issue. We will have to wait until 2023 to assess the impact of efforts to reduce antibiotic consumption.
 Christophe Deperetti
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14/11/2023 | 
