Drivers of Over-the-Counter Antibiotic Consumption
The propagation of antimicrobial resistance in community settings is intimately linked to the ease of procuring antibacterial agents without professional medical evaluation. Observational findings demonstrate that informal acquisition channels persist largely because individuals rely on previous treatment encounters and perceived convenience when managing acute respiratory or self-limiting illnesses [1]. Concurrently, broader systematic syntheses indicate that informal procurement remains prevalent across multiple socioeconomic tiers, driven by structural barriers within formal healthcare systems and commercial retail incentives [2]. Although theoretical knowledge regarding resistant pathogens is often present among consumers, this awareness fails to translate into prudent consumption habits when over-the-counter transactions remain easily accessible [1]. The divergence between diagnostic certainty and unmonitored pharmaceutical access establishes a selective environment that fosters pathogen tolerance [2]. Addressing these dynamics necessitates analytical models that integrate patient demand characteristics with pharmacy supply dynamics rather than treating non-prescription usage merely as an educational deficit [1, 2].