Aspects of excessive antibiotic consumption and environmental influences correlated with the occurrence of resistance to antimicrobial agents

Abstract This review explores the correlation between specific aspects of antibiotic usage, their resistance development and environmental factors. The indiscriminate use of antibiotics led to environment contamination, selection and spreading of antibiotic-resistant organisms and alteration of the microbial ecosystems balance. Socio-behavioural environmental factors and changes in the natural environment are major contributors to resistance development. Resistant bacteria strains isolation in food, water, soil etc. demonstrates the environmental influence on the strains through antibiotics accumulation in the environment. It is difficult to assess the impact of antibiotic consumption on public health and the environment. Reducing irrational consumption, restoring microbial ecosystems, adopting methodologies to control antimicrobial resistance in case of in-hospital infections, implementation of measures included in national/international health policies are the main solutions for this problem.