ANTIBIOTIC use by New Zealanders over the winter season is soaring, with the figures indicating "widespread inappropriate use for viral coughs and colds" according to a new report produced by the NZ Institute of Environmental Science and Research.
The study indicated that across NZ in 2006 there were 17.8 doses of antibiotics per day for every 1000 people - a figure which jumped to 25.8 doses per 1000 in 2014, reports the NZ Herald.
"New Zealand's antimicrobial dispensing has increased dramatically," said Dr Stewart Jessamine, director of protection and regulation at the NZ Ministry of Health.
The median increase in winter use of antibiotics was a whopping 41%, which authorities said indicated use of antibiotics to treat common winter viruses that are not susceptible to the medications.
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