Nosocomial and Healthcare Associated infections

Track 9: Antibiotics and Antimicrobial Use

Antibiotics are one of the most important therapeutic discoveries in the history of medicine. They have revolutionized the way we treat patients with infections and help reduce mortality and morbidity. Unfortunately, antibiotics are more likely to be misused. They are often unnecessarily prescribed for viral infections, against which they have no effect. Not only antibiotics, other antivirals and antimicrobials are losing their effectiveness due to their irrational use and causing antimicrobial resistance.