Received: 27 June 2020 Revised: 4 October 2020 Accepted: 6 October 2020 DOI: 10.1002/bies.202000163 PROBLEMS & PARADIGMS Prospects & Overviews Accounting for variation in and overuse of antibiotics among humans Martin J. Blaser1 Melissa K. Melby2 Margaret Lock3 Mark Nichter4 1 Center for Advanced Biotechnology and Medicine, Rutgers University, Piscataway, New Jersey, USA 2 Department of Anthropology, University of Delaware, Newark, Delaware, USA 3 Department of Social Studies of Medicine and Department of Anthropology, McGill University, Montreal, Quebec, Canada 4 School of Anthropology, Mel and Enid Zuckerman College of Public Health, Department of Family Medicine, University of Arizona, Tucson, Arizona, USA Correspondence Martin J. Blaser, Center for Advanced Abstract Biotechnology and Medicine, Rutgers University, Piscataway NJ 08854, USA. Worldwide, antibiotic use is increasing, but many infections against which antibi- Email:
[email protected] otics are applied are not even caused by bacteria. Over-the-counter and internet sales Mark Nichter, School of Anthropology, Mel and Enid Zuckerman College of Public Health, preclude physician oversight. Regional differences, between and within countries high- Department of Family Medicine, University of light many potential factors influencing antibiotic use. Taking a systems perspective Arizona, Tucson AZ 85721 Email:
[email protected] that considers pharmaceutical commodity chains, we examine antibiotic overuse from the vantage point of both sides of the therapeutic relationship. We examine patterns Funding information and expectations of practitioners and patients, institutional policies and pressures, the Fondation Leducq; Canadian Institute for Advanced Research; C & D Funds; National business strategies of pharmaceutical companies and distributors, and cultural drivers Institutes of Health, Grant/Award Number: of variation.