Emergence of Global Antibiotic Resistance

Antibiotic resistance is a worldwide phenomenon and a global public health crisis. The inappropriate use of antibiotics in the human, animal, food, and agricultural arenas have contributed to the current dilemma. Both gram-positive and gram-negative resistant bacteria have been deemed serious and urgent threats by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. The World Health Organization has created a 5-objective global action plan to address antimicrobial resistance and to coordinate numerous international sectors. Antibiotic resistance affects both this generation and the next; thus, related ethical challenges, such as patient autonomy and justice have yet to be fully understood.