Global and Temporal Trends in the Use of Antibiotics and Spread of Antimicrobial Resistance

Antibiotics, the wonder drugs, have undoubtedly served humans in combating variety of microbial infections. For years, antibiotics have been extensively utilized for therapeutic indications not only for humans but also across other related sectors as animal husbandry and agriculture fields. Irresponsible and off-set utilization of antibiotics have led to the emergence of resistance. This chapter intends to focus on the utilization of antibiotics, origin, mechanism, and consequences of antibiotic resistance. Resistance refers to the inability of drugs to work effectively. Microbes evolve resistance mechanisms via mutational adaptations, modification of genetic expression, alteration of metabolic pathways, and acquisition of resistance genes. An increasing list of microbial infections is becoming difficult to cure because of ineffectiveness of antibiotics leading to increased mortality rates. Global and temporal trends of antimicrobial usage and antibiotic resistance show that the antibiotic resistance can be highly attributed to the increased uptake of inappropriate as well as utilization of unprescribed antibiotics all over the world which can lead towards the serious consequences. Hence, the need of the hour is effectively devise ways and means to overcome this global dilemma which continues to rise day by day. Recently reported data suggests that there is immense need to educate healthcare, animal husbandry, agricultural sector to control the misuse and overuse of antibiotics.