Source · Select Committees · Public Accounts Committee
Recommendation 21
21
A significant proportion of antibiotic prescriptions in primary care are inappropriate.
Conclusion
Misuse and overuse of antimicrobials in humans can occur when they are prescribed inappropriately. Inappropriate use is when antimicrobials are prescribed when they are unnecessary (such as using antibiotics, which are only effective against bacteria, to treat a viral infection), using the wrong antimicrobials (not prescribing the most suitable one for the particular 48 C&AG’s Report, paras 21, 3.25 49 Q 47; HM Government, National Risk Register: 2025 edition, January 2025 50 Q 32 51 Qq 47–49 52 C&AG’s Report, para 3.25; HM Government, National Risk Register: 2023 edition, August 2023 53 C&AG’s Report, paras 21, 3.26 14 syndrome), or using antimicrobials for longer or shorter than necessary.54 According to a Public Health England report in 2018, 20% of prescriptions for antibiotics in primary care in England were inappropriate.55
Government Response
A response document is linked to this report, dated 18 September 2025. Response attribution to this conclusion has not been verified. Read the response document ↗