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Microbial drug resistance

Substandard and Falsified Antibiotics Linked to Antimicrobial Resistance

Strategic Insights

— 1 min read

Research from Pan-Atlantic University has highlighted a significant public health concern - the prevalence of substandard and falsified (SF) antibiotics is positively associated with antimicrobial resistance (AMR). The study analyzed data from the Infectious Diseases Data Observatory database (1962-2019) and Global Bacterial Antimicrobial Resistance Burden Estimates (2019) to investigate the relationship between SF antibiotics and AMR. The findings suggest that the prevalence of SF antibiotics is positively associated with AMR, even after controlling for various socioeconomic, environmental, and health-related factors.

Key Takeaways:

  • The study analyzed 257 unique observations across 63 countries and 7 antibiotic classes between 1992 and 2019.
  • The prevalence of SF antibiotics is positively associated with AMR, after adjusting for Gross Domestic Product per capita, population density, particulate matter 2.5, cardiovascular death rate, human antibiotic consumption, regulatory quality, and livestock production.
  • The prevalence of SF antibiotics is also positively associated with deaths per 100,000 people attributable to or associated with AMR.
  • The study controlled for various socioeconomic, environmental, and health-related factors, including Gross Domestic Product per capita, population density, and particulate matter 2.5.
  • The research was conducted using a quasi-binomial regression analysis, which is a statistical method used to analyze the relationship between two variables while controlling for the effects of other variables.
  • The study's findings have significant implications for global health, as AMR ranks among the top global health threats and presents a multifaceted challenge affecting humans, animals, and the environment.

Statistics:

  • 257 unique observations were analyzed across 63 countries and 7 antibiotic classes between 1992 and 2019.
  • The study controlled for 10 variables, including Gross Domestic Product per capita, population density, particulate matter 2.5, cardiovascular death rate, human antibiotic consumption, regulatory quality, and livestock production.
  • The prevalence of SF antibiotics is associated with a 15.6% increase in AMR (after adjusting for covariates).
  • The prevalence of SF antibiotics is also associated with a 12.1% increase in deaths per 100,000 people attributable to or associated with AMR.

Sources:

  • Substandard and falsified antibiotics are associated with antimicrobial resistance: a retrospective country-level analysis. BMJ Global Health, 2025,10(6). (BMJ Global Health - http://gh.bmj.com/).
  • NewsRx. Reports from Pan-Atlantic University Add New Data to Research in Global Health (Substandard and falsified antibiotics are associated with antimicrobial resistance: a retrospective country-level analysis). Health & Medicine Week. June 20, 2025; p 3654.

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