ANTIBIOTIC RESISTANCE: CAUSES, CONSEQUENCES, AND MODERN METHODS OF PREVENTION

Abstract

Antibiotic resistance has emerged as one of the most pressing public-health challenges of the twenty-first century, threatening to undermine decades of progress in the treatment of infectious disease. This article examines the biological mechanisms by which bacteria acquire resistance, the clinical and behavioral factors that accelerate its spread, particularly the inappropriate use of antibiotics in both human medicine and agriculture, and the specific epidemiological situation observed in Uzbekistan and the broader Central Asian region. Drawing on recent surveys of prescribing behavior, community knowledge, and pathogen resistance patterns, the article highlights the scale of the problem locally, from high rates of multidrug resistance among enteric pathogens to widespread self-medication practices. The article further reviews the recommendations of the World Health Organization and other international bodies for combating antimicrobial resistance, including antimicrobial stewardship, improved surveillance, infection prevention, and public education, and concludes that a coordinated, multisectoral One Health approach is essential to preserving the effectiveness of antibiotics for future generations.