Awareness of Antimicrobial Resistance and Antibiotic Use Among Patients Attending the Outpatient Department of a Tertiary Care Hospital

A cross-sectional study of 259 patients attending the outpatient department of a tertiary care hospital assessed knowledge, attitudes, and practices related to antibiotic use and antimicrobial resistance (AMR). While 93% of participants had heard of antibiotics, important misconceptions remained: only about 36% correctly knew that antibiotics work only against bacterial infections, and over half believed they also treat viral illnesses. Although many participants recognized that taking antibiotics without a prescription is inappropriate, risky behaviors persisted, including self-medication (about 19%) and failure to complete prescribed courses (about 30%). The study concludes that there is a clear gap between awareness and proper antibiotic practices, highlighting the need for better patient education, improved counseling in outpatient settings, and stronger stewardship measures to reduce inappropriate antibiotic use.