Socioeconomic and behavioral factors leading to acquired bacterial resistance to antibiotics in developing countries

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.