%0 Journal Article
%T The importance of antibiotic treatment duration in antimicrobial resistance.
%A Vitiello A
%A Sabbatucci M
%A Salzano A
%A Zovi A
%J Eur J Clin Microbiol Infect Dis
%V 43
%N 8
%D 2024 Aug 4
%M 38833103
%F 5.103
%R 10.1007/s10096-024-04867-y
%X Antimicrobial resistance (AMR) poses a significant threat to global health, leading to increased deaths from drug-resistant infections and escalates healthcare costs. Often termed a "silent pandemic," AMR occurs when pathogens become resistant to antimicrobial drugs, enabling their proliferation and spread. Inappropriate antibiotic usage is a major contributor to this phenomenon, which also extends to fungal infections. In particular, the duration of antibiotic therapy is a crucial aspect, with evidence suggesting that prolonged use can heighten bacterial resistance and harm the human microbiota. In fact, studies comparing short-term versus long-term antibiotic therapies show no significant difference in traditional treatments. In addition, therapeutic drug monitoring allows personalized antibiotic regimens, optimizing dosage and duration to minimize resistance and adverse effects. As a result, clinicians should regularly reassess treatment effectiveness, utilizing techniques like antibiotic timeout and de-escalation therapy to avoid prolonged antibiotic use and mitigate resistance. All these strategies are crucial to prevent and counter the phenomenon of antimicrobial resistance.