Antibiotic resistance occurs when bacteria, viruses, fungi and parasites change over time and do not respond to eradication treatments, increasing the risk of spread, severity and disease. The WHO considers it one of the top 10 threats to global public health, as it compromises the sustainability of medical and public health responses to infectious diseases worldwide. In Spain, it is estimated that there are about 4,000 deaths per year attributable to this resistance and most interventions focus on controlling prescriptions in hospital or primary care settings, but not always in pharmacies.
We believe that there is a great opportunity to involve community pharmacies in optimising the use of antibiotics. In addition, we need greater commitment and awareness within society to eradicate misconceptions such as treating a virus with antibiotics or stopping treatment when symptoms subside.