Antibiotic resistance poses growing global public health threat

Antibiotic resistance has emerged as a critical global public health threat. In the United States and the European Union alone, approximately 50,000 patients die annually from infections caused by multi-resistant organisms. This resistance occurs when bacteria mutate in response to drug use, making infections significantly harder to treat.

Experts emphasize that improper use, including incomplete treatments and self-medication, accelerates this process. Antibiotics are ineffective against viral infections such as the common cold or influenza. Using them unnecessarily allows bacteria within the body to develop defense mechanisms, which can then be transmitted to others.

To combat this, health authorities recommend consulting medical professionals to distinguish between bacterial and viral infections. In Mexico, regulatory measures have been implemented to restrict antibiotic sales to prescription-only, aiming to reduce the 85 percent of total sales previously attributed to self-prescription.