title: Antibiotic resistance: Italian awareness survey 2016.
abstract: Antimicrobial resistance has become a public health priority worldwide. The WHO conducted a survey concerning the personal use of antibiotics, knowledge of appropriate use and awareness of the issue of resistance. A similar survey was conducted in Italy involving 666 young university students and 131 seniors attending courses of the University of the third age. Antibiotics seem to be taken with moderate frequency and appropriately: 30% of respondents took them in the past six months and 94% took these drugs only prescribed by a doctor, in the correct dose and for the proper duration. Notable confusion concerning the conditions treatable with antibiotics was detected (only 30% indicated gonorrhea, and 30-40% believed that antibiotics should be employed for fever, cold, and flu), while 94% of participants seemed aware of the problem of antibiotic resistance. Most of the respondents identified the behaviors that can reduce the phenomenon of resistance (regular handwashing and use of antibiotics only when prescribed and needed). The results of our survey, that involved people of high level of instruction and living in urban areas of northern regions, cannot be extended to all the Italian population. However, they provide valid elements to promote initiatives aimed to a more aware use of antibiotics.
authors.affiliation: Department of Biomedical Sciences for Health, Università degli Studi di Milano, Milano, Italy.
authors.forename: Anna
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Prigitano
authors.affiliation: Department of Biomedical Sciences for Health, Università degli Studi di Milano, Milano, Italy.
authors.forename: Luisa
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Romanò
authors.affiliation: Department of Biomedical Sciences for Health, Università degli Studi di Milano, Milano, Italy.
authors.forename: Francesco
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Auxilia
authors.affiliation: Department of Biomedical Sciences for Health, Università degli Studi di Milano, Milano, Italy.
authors.forename: Silvana
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Castaldi
authors.affiliation: Department of Biomedical Sciences for Health, Università degli Studi di Milano, Milano, Italy. Electronic address: annamaria.tortorano@unmi.it.
authors.forename: Anna M
authors.initials: AM
authors.lastname: Tortorano
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D024881:Drug Resistance, Bacterial / Q000502:physiology*; D005260:Female; D007722:Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice; D006801:Humans; D007558:Italy; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D013334:Students; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D014495:Universities; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents
keywords: Antibiotic resistance; Awareness survey; Italy