Antibiotic resistance in China—a major future challenge

The situation with respect to overuse of antibiotics and antibiotic resistance in China is severe.2 Several factors are involved, including a health system with strong financial incentives for drug prescribing.3 Around 75% of patients with seasonal influenza are estimated to be prescribed antibiotics, and the rate of antibiotic prescription to inpatients is 80%.4 In a study of resistance patterns of several common bacteria in China in 1999 and 2001,5 the mean prevalence of resistance among hospital-acquired infections was as high as 41% and that among community-acquired infections was 26%.