The number of antibiotic prescriptions in German physician practices fell by 11.5 percent to 27 million in 2025, falling below 2019 levels for the first time since the COVID-19 pandemic. This is good news in terms of antibiotic resistance, as the prudent prescribing of antibiotics is a key element in preventing resistance.
Contract physicians in Germany prescribed fewer antibiotics in 2025 than in the previous year. Current data from the Central Institute for Health Insurance Medical Care (Zi) show a decline from approximately 30.5 million prescriptions in 2024 to about 27 million in 2025. This continues the long-term trend toward a more cautious use of antibiotics in outpatient care. Even before the COVID-19 pandemic, the number of prescriptions had been declining for several years: Between 2016 and 2019, it fell from around 34 million to about 29 million.
Antibiotic Use in Outpatient Care on the Decline Again
During the pandemic, prescription numbers initially dropped particularly sharply. This was due, among other things, to protective measures and the resulting decrease in infections. In 2020, just under 21.5 million antibiotic prescriptions were recorded, and in 2021, around 19.5 million. With the lifting of restrictions and a resurgence in infection rates, the numbers began to rise again starting in 2022. In 2024, they exceeded the pre-pandemic level of 2019 for the first time. According to the Zi, Germany continues to rank among the European countries with relatively low antibiotic use in outpatient care.
Dr. Dominik von Stillfried, Chairman of the Board of the Central Institute for Health Insurance Medical Care (Zi), interprets the current figures as a sign of responsible antibiotic use in medical practices.
Changes are also evident in individual antibiotic groups. In particular, the prescribing of fluoroquinolones has declined. This class of drugs has been under scrutiny by drug regulatory authorities for years due to potential serious side effects such as tendon problems or neurological disorders.
Restrained Use Supports the Fight Against Resistance
Antibiotics are indispensable in the treatment of severe bacterial infections. At the same time, antibiotic resistance is a major global challenge in healthcare. The prudent and targeted use of antibiotics—that is, only when medically necessary and with the appropriate active ingredient—is crucial to curbing the development of antibiotic resistance. The more frequently and broadly antibiotics are used, the greater the selective pressure on bacteria: resistant pathogens can more easily prevail and spread. Current prescription data indicate that the use of antibiotics remains restrained.
Further Information
Press release from the Zi (in German)