Dominant Antibiotic Consumption Patterns Might Be Associated With the Prevalence of Multiple Sclerosis in European Countries

Abstract

Background/aim: With a prevalence of 50-300 per 100,000 people, about 2.3 million people are estimated to live with multiple sclerosis (MS) globally. The role of antibiotics in the development, or prevention of MS is controversial. We aimed to elucidate the association between antibiotic consumption and MS.

Patients and methods: Pearson statistical comparisons were performed between the annual average antibiotic consumption patterns expressed in Defined Daily Dose/1,000 inhabitants/Day of the antibiotic consumption for the years of 1997-2018 in 30 European countries, with the respective prevalence of MS estimated for 2016.

Results: A positive correlation (promoting effect) has been observed between narrow spectrum penicillin (r=0.636) and tetracycline (r=0.412) consumption with MS prevalence.

Conclusion: Countries, with high consumption of narrow spectrum penicillin and tetracycline, experience a higher prevalence of MS than other countries.

Keywords: Antibiotic consumption; multiple sclerosis; penicillin; tetracycline.