Antimicrobial consumption - Annual Epidemiological Report for 2019

Key facts

• In 2019, the average total (community and hospital sector combined) consumption of antibacterials for systemic use (Anatomical Therapeutic Chemical (ATC) group J01) in the EU/EEA was 19.4 defined daily doses (DDD) per 1 000 inhabitants per day (country range: 9.5–34.1). During the period 2010–2019, a statistically significant decrease was observed for the EU/EEA overall. Statistically significant decreasing trends were observed for 13 countries. Statistically significant increasing trends were observed for four countries.
• The average consumption of antivirals for systemic use (ATC group J05) in both sectors (total (community and hospital sector combined) was 2.3 DDD per 1 000 inhabitants per day (country range: 0.3–6.8).
• Thirty countries – 28 EU Member States and two EEA countries (Iceland and Norway) – reported data on antimicrobial consumption for 2019. Twenty-five countries reported both community and hospital consumption, three countries (Austria, Germany and Iceland) reported only community consumption, and two countries (Cyprus and Czechia) reported total consumption for both sectors combined.
• Antimicrobial consumption is expressed as the number of DDD per 1 000 inhabitants per day. The ATC DDD Index 2020 was used for the analysis of 2019 data as well as of historical data in order to assess 10-year trends.
• The most recent data on antimicrobial consumption, as well as historical data (1997‒2019) are available from the public ESAC-Net interactive database on ECDC’s website.