Understanding and Application of Antibiotics: Analysis among Students of Health Science in Sarajevo with an Emphasis on Gender Distribution

Abstract

Antibiotics are medications that inhibit bacterial growth and are used in the treatment of bacterial infections, both gram-positive and gram-negative. Antibiotics also represent products of metabolism of certain microorganisms that adversely affect the development and reproduction of other microorganisms. They are one of the greatest discoveries of modern medicine; however, in today's age, the greatest challenge is the resistance of bacteria to antibiotics. There are numerous reasons for the emergence of antibiotic resistance. One reason lies in inadequate education about antibiotics, their application, and usage. The aim of this study was to survey students of the University of Sarajevo's Faculty of Health Sciences about their general knowledge of antibiotics and their methods of application. A total of 151 students participated in this study, including 125 females (83%) and 26 males (17%). The questions consisted of two parts: the first part covered general knowledge about antibiotics, while the second part addressed bacterial resistance to antibiotics.