Self-medication and antibiotic resistance: Crisis, current challenges, and prevention

Abstract

The present study aims to explore the crisis of antibiotic resistance and discover more about the current challenges related to self-medication. The current challenges related to antibiotic resistance are unique and differ from the challenges of the past since new bacterial pathogens are involved and continue to evolve. Strains with resistance to multiple antibiotic classes have emerged which the discovery of new antibiotics has failed to match. The consequences of antibiotic resistance are grave with mortality and morbidity continually on the rise. This paper also highlights the possible interventions that can be effective at the micro or individual level in the prevention of development of antibiotic resistance.

Ongoing strategies to improve the management of upper respiratory tract infections and reduce inappropriate antibiotic use particularly among lower and middle-income countries: findings and implications for the future

“…Finally, it is vitally important to target patients and the public in any future initiatives as they can put pressure on physicians, pharmacists and nurses to prescribe and dispense antibiotics for URTIs 98,157,208,374 . People vary in their knowledge about antibiotics and AMR; however, and they can have strong beliefs about the effectiveness of antibiotics even for viral infections 104,137,157,248,[375][376][377] .…”

“…Sub-optimal management of URTIs in LMICs including the overuse of antibiotics is promoted by misconceptions, social-cultural issues, diagnostic uncertainty, and clinical competency as well as commercial, patient and time pressures 21,29,50,52,57,92,[96][97][98][99][100][101][102][103][104][105][106][107][108][109] . Inappropriate management is also a concern in countries with high rates of infectious diseases such as HIV, malaria and tuberculosis (TB), which is the case in sub-Saharan Africa, as this may complicate treatment [110][111][112] .…”

“…This is because a considerable proportion of antibiotics prescribed and dispensed worldwide are in ambulatory care, and, as mentioned, predominantly for URTIs 21,82,85,88,90,[116][117][118] . There is also a need to focus on LMICs, including sub-Saharan Africa, because infectious disease rates are higher in LMICs than in developed countries, there is extensive self-purchasing of antibiotics in LMICs because of their relatively easy availability, and issues surrounding their inappropriate use have been less well researched and understood in LMICs compared with higher income countries 43,45,49,100,104,[119][120][121][122][123][124] . A considerably higher percentage of patients with URTIs are inappropriately treated in LMICs compared with high-income countries 88 .…”

Antibiotics in Dentistry-Double-Edged Sword

“…Previous studies have shown that in India the prevalence of selfmedication was 37% & 17% in urban and rural population respectively [23]. Several studies show that self-medication is a global phenomenon resulting in major problems of wastage of resourses, increased drug resistance and causes serious health hazards such as adverse reactions and prolonged suffering [24][25][26]. The issue of medication misuse is not isolated to India alone, but it is an issue that needs to be addressed in any context where pharmaceuticals are widely available.…”

Synthesis and Antimicrobial Evaluation of Quinazolinone Peptide Derivatives

“…Although a number of antibiotics are commercially available for various infections but the development of microbial resistance is another challenge which is due to overuse of antibiotics and poor infection control practices [3][4][5][6].…”