Irrational use of antibiotics and factors associated with antibiotic resistance: Findings from a cross‐sectional study in Bangladesh

BACKGROUND AND AIMS: Irrational antibiotic (AB) usage poses a serious concern to third‐world countries because of poor surveillance, lack of information, and patients' propensity for self‐medication. Additionally, the unpredictability of the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID‐19) pandemic promoted the abuse of ABs, which accelerated the prevalence of antibiotic resistance (ABR). The primary aim of this study was to assess the pattern of AB usage and irrational use of ABs‐related potential factors associated with ABR among the students and teachers of a leading public university of Bangladesh. METHODS: A cross‐sectional web‐based survey was conducted among the students and teachers (n = 783) of the selected university, from January 1 to February 28, 2022. Descriptive statistics, χ (2) test, and logistic regression analysis were employed to analyze the collected data. RESULTS: The regression analysis supported that male participants had a 34% lower experience of acquiring ABR than female respondents (adjusted odds ratio [AOR] = 0.66, 95% confidence interval [CI] = 0.448, 0.973; p = 0.036). The 1st/2nd‐year level students had more than two times higher experience with ABR than the master's or higher‐class students (AOR = 2.149, 95% CI = 1.047, 4.412; p = 0.037). The participants who took ABs for 4–6 days showed more than two times ABR experience than those who took ABs for above 10 days (AOR = 2.016, 95% CI = 1.016, 4.003; p = 0.045). Respondents who finished their AB medication (dose completion) had a 57% less chance of acquiring ABR than the participants who did not complete their dose. CONCLUSION: This study found that irrational use of ABs is more prevalent among the youth and female participants. At this stage, there is an urgent need for comprehensive statutory AB control rules, as well as measures for appropriate information, education, and surveillance throughout different groups of Bangladesh.