Antibiotic Shortages Are Fueling Antimicrobial Resistance
In countries worldwide, shortages of first-line antibiotics often lead to overuse of those that are specialized or kept in reserve for emergencies. Not only may these substitutes be less effective, but reliance on them increases the risk of drug resistance developing and infections becoming more difficult to treat in the long run.
GENEVA – The overuse of antibiotics is now widely recognized as one of the main factors contributing to antimicrobial resistance – often called the “silent pandemic.” But what is less well known is that shortages of antibiotics also play a role in fueling AMR.