Abstract:
Antibiotic resistance raises ethical concerns due to its severe consequences and the inequitable distribution of its burden, resulting from
individual behaviors within communities and public health policies.
The study of bioethical aspects has focused on the moral responsibilities of patients to complete antibiotic courses, the tragedy of the commons,
and efforts to restrict antibiotic use through stewardship programs.
Asymptomatic and widespread carriage of resistant bacteria necessitates complex scientific analyses and ethical considerations, alongside
attention to global disparities in the burden of antimicrobial-resistant
diseases. Neglected topics include the harms caused by antibiotic use,
such as adverse effects on the human microbiome, and the lack of robust
evidence to inform the majority of antibiotic prescribing decisions.