Insights into antibiotic misuse
World experience and lessons to be learned
Undoubtedly, increasing bacterial resistance against antibiotics is becoming a major worldwide health challenge. The cooperation of comprehensive and well-defined measures is imperative to tackle the possible devastating outcomes. Antibiotic misuse is an important risk factor in bacterial resistance. In developed countries, interventions designed to target antibiotic abuse are established and successfully employed. In contrast, given the lack of research and strategies implemented in developing countries, the knowledge about antibiotic misuse is still scarce and the number of individuals consuming antibiotics improperly is rising. Although, legislations in these countries were put into force by health authorities to prevent selling these medications in pharmacies without medical prescriptions, the accurateness that healthcare professionals follow these laws is questionable and, unfortunately, selling antibiotics have been often allowed without the need of any medical prescription.
This Frontiers Research Topic intends to provide a forum for understanding the current state of the art on antibiotic misuse. Its design comprises two major themes: i) studying the attitudes towards antibiotic consumption among various social groups in both developed and developing countries, particularly among residents, medical students, and practicing pharmacists and clinicians, and ii) studying the impact of various implemented efforts such as laws, educational interventions, and follow-up policies in reducing patients’ demand for antibiotics and avoiding public health and economic negative consequences.
Original articles, reviews, opinions and commentaries in antibiotic consumption in general and magnitude of antibiotic misuse, the extension of this problem and the factors that may have a contribution in the community in particular are welcomed. We encourage submissions of papers addressing prospectively the effect of interference measures. Papers focusing on successful programmes to tackle antibiotic abuse are also welcomed. Furthermore, papers that compare antibiotic consumption and misuse between developed and developing communities are welcomed.
We aim that this Research Topic makes a substantial contribution in this field by providing updated knowledge and important insights to guide future social and clinical practice. We also aim to alert the scientific community and public health officials for the dimension and implications of this problem.
Font: Frontiers in antimicrobial
