Francisco Dionisio , Fernando Baquero, Marina Fuertes

Humans have been giving a selective advantage to antibiotic-resistant bacteria worldwide by inundating the environment with antimicrobials for about one century. As a result, the efficacy of antibiotics has been impaired. Antibiotic resistance is a public health problem, responsible for increases in mortality and extended stays at hospitals. Hospitals and other clinical settings have implemented stewardship measures to reduce antibiotic administration and prescription. However, these measures demand multifactorial approaches, including multidisciplinary teams in clinical settings and the education of professionals and patients. Individual and social psychology-based research should be considered, as social, cultural, and individual factors impact antibiotic prescription, as shown by recent studies indicating that mother-infant attachment and parenting styles play critical roles in antibiotic use.