According to the CDC, most antibiotic use in humans is for treatment of outpatient infections. This development surprised infectious disease experts who are now concerned that this superbug has ventured out from the intensive care units, and can now wreak havoc in community settings such as schools and day care centers. Reducing antibiotic resistance Both health care practitioners and patients can play an active role in helping to curb the growing problem of antibiotic resistance. In the past, antibiotic resistance was considered a global health concern that had limited relevance for individual physicians. However, now as primary care physicians are witnessing resistance in their own communities and practices, they are beginning to recognize that they must alter their prescribing patterns and educate their patients about ways to prevent this problem from escalating.
Several factors can help minimize the development of antibiotic resistance.
The medical establishment, regulatory committees, infectious disease specialists and community physicians need to come together to provide leadership for promoting proper use of antibiotics. Strategies for stemming the tide of antimicrobial resistance. Goldman DA, Weinstein RA, Wenzel RP, et al. A challenge to hospital leadership. Trends in antimicrobial susceptibility of bacterial pathogens of the respiratory tract.