Practices of patients consuming antibiotics and knowledge about antibiotic resistance in Hail region – Saudi Arabia

Abstract

Antibiotics are a group of drugs that treat different bacterial infections. However, inappropriate use of antibiotics such as overuse (used when they are not needed) or use for the wrong reason can lead to antibiotic resistance (bacteria that are harder to treat). Patient knowledge of antibiotics is considered an important contributing factor for antibiotic misuse. Thus, this study was conducted to evaluate patient knowledge about antibiotic misuse and resistance among a population of Hail in the northern part of Saudi Arabia.