In. Okeke et al., Socioeconomic and behavioral factors leading to acquired bacterial resistance to antibiotics in developing countries, EM INFECT D, 5(1), 1999, pp. 18-27
In developing countries, acquired bacterial resistance to antimicrobial age
nts is common in isolates from healthy persons and from persons with commun
ity-acquired infections. Complex socioeconomic and behavioral factors assoc
iated with antibiotic resistance, particularly regarding diarrheal and resp
iratory pathogens, in developing tropical countries, include misuse of anti
biotics by health professionals, unskilled practitioners, and laypersons; p
oor drug quality; unhygienic conditions accounting for spread of resistant
bacteria; and inadequate surveillance.