Community factors in the development of antibiotic resistance.
The global impact of antibiotic resistance is potentially devastating, threatening to set back progress against certain infectious diseases to the pre-antibiotic era. Although most antibiotic-resistant bacteria originally emerged in hospitals, drug-resistant strains are becoming more common in the community. Factors that facilitate the development of resistance within the community can be categorized as behavioral or environmental/policy. Behavioral factors include inappropriate use of antibiotics and ineffective infection control and hygiene practices. Environmental/policy factors include the continued use of antibiotics in agriculture and the lack of new drug development. A multifaceted approach that includes behavioral strategies in the community and the political will to make difficult regulatory decisions will help to minimize the problem of antimicrobial resistance globally.
Larson
Elaine
E
School of Nursing, Department of Epidemiology, Mailman School of Public Health, Columbia University, New York, NY, USA. ELL23@columbia.edu
D016573:Agrochemicals / Q000494:pharmacology; D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents / Q000494:pharmacology*; D017714:Community-Acquired Infections / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000453:epidemiology*; D004345:Drug Industry; D004352:Drug Resistance, Microbial; D006291:Health Policy; D006300:Health Services Misuse; D006801:Humans; D012307:Risk Factors
D016573:Agrochemicals; D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents