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To the Editor: Previous studies have demonstrated that antimicrobial resistance is not one serious health problem, but an overarching term for many infectious disease challenges stemming from the elaborate evolution of microbes and greatly influenced by human activities, perceptions, and behaviors. Multiple investigations also have provided evidence of a consistent correlation between levels of antimicrobial use and the development and persistence of antimicrobial resistance in clinical, community, and agricultural settings. Yet overall antimicrobial consumption represents just one piece of the proverbial puzzle regarding the development of antimicrobial resistance. In many developing countries where access to antibiotics is largely unregulated, misperceptions, sociocultural beliefs and information poverty can impact the precise ways in which antimicrobials are being used and abused, contributing to higher rates of resistance. In this context, information poverty is defined as the scenario where individuals lack the ability or means to obtain, interpret and/or apply information related to proper antimicrobial use. In a pilot survey conducted in July 2007 in Ago-Iwoye, Lagos, and Ibadan, Nigeria, which focused on the use of antimicrobials among women of child-bearing age as part of a larger study on sociocultural/socioeconomic influences on resistance gene distributions, a disturbing but escalating new trend of unorthodox use of antimicrobial agents during monthly menstrual periods was revealed. Twenty-seven women were interviewed and asked questions about the nature and duration of antimicrobial use during their menstrual cycles.

Palabras clave: Antimicrobials menstrual cycles.

2007-11-06   |   821 visitas   |   Evalua este artículo 0 valoraciones

Vol. 1 Núm.2. Octubre 2007 Pags. 123-124 J Infect Developing Countries 2007; 1(2)