The ease with which doctors prescribe antibiotics and their availability from pharmacies, sometimes without a prescription, have made Malta the second highest consumer of this "wonder drug" in the EU.
This is a huge cause of concern for health authorities as the practice could be contributing to an increase in resistance to the medicine, according to the latest Eurobarometer survey.
The survey, conducted in December, showed that, in the previous 12 months, 55 per cent admitted they took antibiotics. Malta was only surpassed by Italy, where 57 per cent took antibiotics in the preceding year.
Malta's results contrast sharply with the prevalence in the EU where governments and medical authorities are doing their utmost to cut the use of antibiotics. According to the survey, the average use of antibiotics in the EU 27 in the past year stood at just 40 per cent, 15 percentage points lower than Malta's.
"This is very bad news as it seems the Maltese are becoming very dependent on antibiotics and this may be causing repercussions," a European Commission health official noted.
The high use of antibiotics by the Maltese could be caused for two main reasons, he said, pointing out it was a fact that pharmacies in Malta sold antibiotics easily, sometimes even without a prescription.
"Another reason might be that GPs often resort to antibiotics even when there is no real need for them, such as to cure a simple cold. In Europe, antibiotics are usually used only as a last resort," he said.
Inappropriate antibiotic treatment and have been a contributing factor to the emergence of resistant bacteria, such as MRSA.
The overuse of antibiotics like penicillin and erythromycin, which used to be one-time miracle cures, has been associated with emerging resistance since the 1950s and therapeutic usage of antibiotics in hospitals has been linked with increases in multi-antibiotic resistant bacteria.
According to the survey, 17 per cent of Maltese took antibiotics to cure a simple cold and another 26 per cent resorted to them after catching the flu. When asked whether antibiotics cured colds, 65 per cent said they did, which is a wrong assumption.
According to a Commission report, it is estimated that between five and 10 per cent of all antibiotics sold in Malta are not prescribed by doctors, something considered illegal in other EU member states.
The report adds that although Malta has launched a strategy and an action plan to reduce the inappropriate use of antibiotics, this has not been very effective so far.
"In 2003, Malta reported that antimicrobials sold without prescription were believed to be a relevant source of inappropriate use (of antibiotics). The situation remained the same in 2008," the report states.
According to the Commission, Malta's action plan lacks certain important aspects such as a prevention policy and a programme of education and training for health professionals.