Fewer Prescriptions, More Resistance: The Troubling Disconnect in Azithromycin's Public Health Story
Declining azithromycin prescription rates have not translated into declining resistance rates for several key bacterial pathogens—a counterintuitive reality that is forcing public health officials to rethink conventional antibiotic stewardship frameworks. Regional variation, agricultural exposure, and the long pharmacological shadow of past overuse are all contributing factors. Understanding this paradox is essential for any meaningful conversation about the future of macrolide antibiotics in Am