Rural ICBs applauded for antimicrobial stewardship

Rural ICBs reported the lowest antibiotic consumption, a 2025 surveillance report shows.

English surveillance programme for antimicrobial utilisation and resistance (ESPAUR) highlights NHS Somerset, Shropshire, Telford and Wrekin, and NHS Cornwall and the Isles of Scilly ICBs as among those with the lowest levels of total antibiotic consumption in 2025. The highest levels were seen in North East and North Cumbria, followed by Greater Manchester, Cheshire and Merseyside ICBs.

The report also shows that antibiotic supply through the Pharmacy First service increased substantially in 2025, with rates 53.1 per cent higher than during the first 11 months following service launch (February to December 2024). However, general practice remained the largest contributor to antibiotic use (65.4%) but also the main driver of this reduction, with consumption 18.8 per cent lower than in 2019.

Penicillins remained the most used antibiotic class, accounting for 30.9 per cent of total consumption, despite an overall reduction in use between 2024 and 2025.

Other key findings from the ESPAUR 2025 to 2026 include that while overall antibiotic consumption has continued to decrease and remains below pre-pandemic levels, resistant infections are still increasing, although the pace of that increase slowed in the latest year.

HRT statistics for England show a 12 per cent rise in HRT prescribing to 17m items. An HRT Prescription Prepayment Certificate (PPC) was used for more than a fifth (23%) of HRT items.

NHS Statistical Reports