Antibiotic misuse
Antibiotic Misuse
Antibiotic misuse, also known as Antibiotic abuse or Antibiotic overuse (pronounced: an-tee-by-OT-ik mis-YOOS), refers to the inappropriate use of antibiotics, typically when they are not necessary or are used incorrectly.
Etymology
The term "antibiotic" comes from the Greek words "anti" meaning "against" and "bios" meaning "life". "Misuse" is derived from the Middle English word "misusen", which means "to use wrongly".
Overview
Antibiotic misuse can occur in several ways, including when antibiotics are prescribed for viral infections against which they have no effect, when they are taken without a prescription, or when the prescribed course of antibiotics is not completed. This misuse can contribute to a serious global health problem known as antibiotic resistance, where bacteria evolve to become resistant to antibiotics.
Related Terms
- Antibiotic Resistance: A phenomenon in which bacteria are able to survive and multiply in the presence of an antibiotic that was previously able to kill or inhibit them.
- Prescription Medication: Medication that can only be obtained with a written order from a healthcare professional.
- Viral Infection: Infections caused by viruses, against which antibiotics are ineffective.
- Bacteria: Single-celled microorganisms that can cause disease. Some bacteria can be killed or inhibited by antibiotics.
See Also
External links
- Medical encyclopedia article on Antibiotic misuse
- Wikipedia's article - Antibiotic misuse
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