A global meta-analysis encompassing 174 studies from 51 countries found that 42.1% of primary care prescriptions include antibiotics.
Inappropriate antibiotic prescribing is prevalent, constituting 57.6% of all antibiotic prescriptions in primary care.
Higher antibiotic prescribing rates are observed in lower-middle-income and low-income countries, with rural areas showing greater prevalence than urban areas.
No significant reduction in antibiotic prescribing was observed over the past two decades, underscoring the need to re-evaluate antimicrobial stewardship strategies globally.
