Addressing antibiotic resistance is a shared responsibility
12 Sep 2025
As respiratory illnesses increase, experts emphasize the need for improved hygiene and more careful use of medicines to prevent the spre.ad of superbugs.
Although winter is ending, the 2025 flu season has seen a surge in respiratory illnesses across Australia. Experts are warning that the misuse of antibiotics could worsen the problem by contributing to antibiotic-resistant “superbugs.”
Research shows that in 2019, antibiotic resistance was linked to nearly five million deaths worldwide, including 1.27 million directly caused by resistant bacterial infections.
Dr Tien Bui, research fellow at the University of South Australia, said antibiotic use and prescriptions in children have increased significantly over the past 30 years. He emphasised the importance of safe and appropriate use of medicines, particularly antibiotics.
“Antibiotic resistance often develops when people take antibiotics unnecessarily or don’t complete the full prescribed course,” Dr Bui said. “When resistance takes hold, standard treatments may no longer work, making infections harder or even impossible to treat, increasing the risk of severe illness and death.”
Experts stress that tackling antibiotic resistance is a collective responsibility. Simple measures such as practising good hygiene, staying up to date with vaccinations, and using antibiotics only when necessary can make a real difference.
Australia’s Chief Medical Officer, Professor Tony Lawler, has also reminded patients not to take antibiotics “just in case” or use medicines prescribed for others, and not to pressure doctors or veterinarians for antibiotics if they are not needed.
Recent research published in The Lancet suggests that deaths directly caused by resistant bacterial infections could rise to nearly two million globally by 2050, highlighting the urgent need for action.
Dr Bui concluded: “Using antibiotics wisely—taking the right medicine, at the right dose, for the right duration—is essential to slow the spread of superbugs and protect public health.”
Source: University of South Australia; Australian Government Department of Health; The Lancet
