IMPACT OF SELF-MEDICATION ON ANTIMICROBIAL RESISTANCE AND THE EFFECTIVENESS OF INFECTION TREATMENTS

Abstract

This article sought to discuss the scientific factors that relate self-medication and the impacts of the effectiveness of infectious treatments due to antimicrobial resistance. An integrative literature review was conducted, with 12 studies from the SciELO, Medline, and Lilacs databases, published between 2018 and 2025, in the vernacular language and available free of charge and in full. The results presented studies between 2025 and 2021 and showed that the literature is convergent on the factors that most influence antimicrobial resistance, namely self-medication, treatment carried out for longer or shorter than indicated, incorrect or excessive prescription of antibiotics, and lack of information among the population about the risks and consequences. Strategies to change this scenario involve public policies, training of professionals, coordinated control and surveillance actions in the dispensing and use of antibiotics, and raising public awareness. It is concluded that this is a complex public health problem, as it can overload the health system, make some diseases more difficult or untreatable, and even lead to the death of patients.