Setting a realistic AWaRe target for primary care antibiotic use in LMICs

We welcome the WHO AWaRe (Access/Watch/Reserve) Antibiotic Book, released on Dec 9, 2022. Sharland and colleagues proposed two antibiotic use targets that could support its introduction and the evaluation of its effectiveness, as follows: 90% of infections requiring an antibiotic in primary health care can be treated with oral Access antibiotics rather than broad spectrum Watch antibiotics and more than 50% of minor infections can be treated without antibiotics.

The WHO AWaRe Antibiotic Book has great potential to optimise antibiotic use in primary care, foremost when at once regulating or guiding over-the-counter dispensing of Watch antibiotics, and facilitating follow-up of patients’ clinical evolution.