V. Hans Basil,
- Professor, Department of Commerce and Management, Srinivas University, Mangalore, Karnataka, India
Abstract
Antibiotics revolutionised modern medicine, transforming deadly bacterial infections into treatable ones and making possible surgery, cancer therapy, and organ transplantation. However, their overuse and misuse has led to a rising worldwide health problem: antibiotic resistance. This article discusses the paradox of antibiotics – powerful life-saving medications and possible drivers of a public health emergency. It reviews the modes of action of antibiotics, their significance in the treatment of bacterial infections and the repercussions of their overuse and misuse for human health, agriculture and clinical practice. The conversation also brings up the advent of resistant forms of bacteria, the diminished effectiveness of conventional therapies, and the problems of discovering new antibiotics. It highlights the necessity of appropriate use, public awareness and global efforts to combat resistance. Finally, the author concludes that antibiotics are still indispensable, but their future efficacy depends on judicious stewardship and educated use.
Keywords: Antibiotics, bacterial infections resistance to antibiotics, substance abuse public health, antimicrobial stewardship health care practices
[This article belongs to International Journal of Antibiotics ]
References
Estany-Gestal A, Salgado-Barreira A, Vazquez-Lago JM. Antibiotic use and antimicrobial resistance: A global public health crisis. Antibiotics (Basel). 2024;13(9):900. 2. Mackenzie D. Reboot antibiotics arsenal at any cost. New Sci. 2014;(2970):10–11. 3. Uddin MN, Rahman MH, Hasan MM, Islam MN, Sarkar MB, Islam MR, et al. Survey on antimicrobial resistance: Reason behind the misuse of antibiotics in Bangladesh. J Pharm Res Int. 2017;18(6):1–8. 4. Wiese-Posselt M, Saydan S, Lâm TT, Rörig A, Bergmann C, Becker F, et al. Development and evaluation of a massive open online course (MOOC) to teach medical students the prudent use of antibiotics. Antimicrob Resist Infect Control. 2025;14(1):105. 5. Maeda M, Yamaguchi K. Impact of education on antibiotic literacy and awareness among pharmacy students at a Japanese university: A questionnaire survey. J Pharm Health Care Sci. 2025;11(1):12. 6. Wright GD. Opportunities for natural products in 21st century antibiotic discovery. Nat Prod Rep. 2017;34(7):694–701. 7. Grigoryan L, Monnet DL, Haaijer-Ruskamp FM, Bonten MJ, Lundborg S, Verheij TJ. Self-medication with antibiotics in Europe: A case for action. Curr Drug Saf. 2010;5(4):329–332. 8. Ali MH, Kalima P, Maxwell SR. Failure to implement hospital antimicrobial prescribing guidelines: A comparison of two UK academic centres. J Antimicrob Chemother. 2006;57(5):959–962. 9. Seth-Smith HM, Rooney AM, Egli A. Strain typing (bacterial, viral, fungal, and mycobacterial). In: Manual of Molecular Microbiology: Fundamentals and Applications. 2025. p. 48–73. 10. Nathan C, Cars O. Antibiotic resistance—Problems, progress, and prospects. N Engl J Med. 2014;371(19):1761–1763.

International Journal of Antibiotics
| Volume | 03 | |
| Issue | 02 | |
| Received | 07/05/2026 | |
| Accepted | 12/05/2026 | |
| Published | 30/05/2026 | |
| Publication Time | 23 Days |
