Economic aspects of antibiotic resistance

n Antibiotics are essential in the prevention and cure of bacterial infections. n The use of antibiotics generates resistance to their effects, reducing their effectiveness in the prevention and cure of disease. n Resistance is associated with antibiotic usage (appropriate or otherwise), and the interaction of microorganisms, people and the environment. n Resistance is therefore not eradicable, but will have to be managed. n Antibiotics are a scarce resource as current use decreases their future value. n This requires an assessment of the balance between the positive effects of using antibiotics and the negative impact of this use on their temporal effectiveness. n Resistance has to be included as a factor when assessing the relative costs and benefits of the use of antibiotics. DEFINITION OF THE PROBLEM