When Does Overuse of Antibiotics Become a Tragedy of the Commons?

• Published in: PloS one Vol. 7; no. 12; p. e46505
• Main Authors: Porco, Travis C., Gao, Daozhou, Scott, James C., Shim, Eunha, Enanoria, Wayne T., Galvani, Alison P., Lietman, Thomas M.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: United States Public Library of Science 07.12.2012; Public Library of Science (PLoS)
• Subjects: Analysis; Anti-Bacterial Agents - therapeutic use; Antibiotic resistance; Antibiotics; Biology; Conflicts of interest; Decision analysis; Decision making; Disease transmission; Drug resistance; Drug Resistance, Microbial; Epidemiology; Ethical aspects; Health aspects; Humans; Immunization; Incentives; Infections; Infectious diseases; Mathematical analysis; Mathematical models; Mathematics; Medical personnel; Medical societies; Medicine; Microbial drug resistance; Models, Biological; Morbidity; Ordinary differential equations; Organisms; Physicians; Population; Practice Patterns, Physicians; Self interest; Social aspects; Tuberculosis; United States > US; San Francisco California; California

Over-prescribing of antibiotics is considered to result in increased morbidity and mortality from drug-resistant organisms. A resulting common wisdom is that it would be better for society if physicians would restrain their prescription of antibiotics. In this view, self-interest and societal intere...