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Understand  –  How did we end up here?

Use and inappropriate use

Massive amounts of antibiotics are used all around the world for many different applications. Antibiotics are indispensable when treating bacterial infections in humans and animals, but antibiotics are often used when not needed, when ineffective and/or in the wrong way.

They are for example often used for infections that can not be treated with antibiotics (such as colds) and routinely in farmed animals. Ultimately, all antibiotic use is a driving force for increased prevalence and spread of resistant bacteria. This sub-section discusses in what settings antibiotics are used and reasons for inappropriate use within those areas.