Recent findings showed the persistent increase in use of broad-spectrum antibiotics, specifically azithromycin and clarithromycin. This has prompted the issuance of another newsletter to doctors, dentists and pharmacists, highlighting the importance of responsible antibiotic prescribing, particularly for upper respiratory tract infections (URTIs). Key reminders include:

• Amoxicillin remains the Gold Standard for treating common bacterial respiratory infections.
• Amoxicillin is available in private community pharmacies.
• Use extreme care when prescribing macrolides empirically respiratory tract infections.

This initiative supports informed antibiotic use to help prevent resistance and ensure effective treatment options for the future.

Find out more in the National AMR Committee’s 2024 Newsletter and 2025 Newsletter.

Local data also indicated a steady decrease in antibiotic use until 2019. This trend shifted in 2020-2021, influenced by the COVID-19 pandemic. However, in 2022, antibiotic use sharply increased, reaching the highest level ever reported in Malta. Additionally, broad-spectrum antibiotics are heavily prescribed, with Malta holding the second-highest ratio of broad- to narrow-spectrum antibiotics among EU/EEA countries.

In order to minimise resistance and ensure appropriate patient treatment, the National AMR Committee urges primary care physicians and paediatricians to:

• prescribe antibiotics judiciously, particularly for respiratory tract infections, using tools like the Centor score and point-of-care Strep tests to assess viral origin.
• follow national guidelines that emphasise using narrow spectrum antibiotics, such as amoxicillin.

Find out more in the National AMR Committee’s 2023 Newsletter.