Effect of antibiotic prescription on antibiotic resistance: a systematic review

Abstract

Antibiotics are agents that are used to manage illnesses caused by bacteria. They effectively control the bacterial disease but have no impact on viral infections. The resistance against antibiotics is a significant problem that threatens the use of antibiotics for treating diseases; it is increasing over time. The inappropriate antibiotic prescription may worsen the condition and affect the organisms' sensitivity to antibiotics. This review was aimed at assessing the effect of antibiotic prescription on the resistance of antibiotics by reviewing the previous studies related to that subject. The databases, including PubMed, Scopus, Elsevier, Google Scholar, and Research Gate, were explored to search for articles published after 2010 and concerned with our subject. The included search terms were a combination of "Antibiotics, Antimicrobial, Agents, Resistance, Prescription, Effect, Impact, & Role." The inclusion criteria were original English articles that reported the impact of antibiotic prescription on antibiotic resistance. A total of 6560 articles were obtained, and only ten were eligible for the inclusion criteria. The studies included a total number of 2340227 participants and five-study designs. There was an irrational and inappropriate prescription of antibiotics. The prescription of antibiotics significantly impacts the resistance to antibiotics, where inappropriate and irrational prescriptions can increase and accelerate the resistance crisis.