The social standing or class of an individual or a certain group is called economic

status or socioeconomic status. It is mostly measured as a combination of income,

occupation and education. In assessing economic status, there are measuring variable
that may be useful other than household income. Example assets like as inherited
wealth, savings, employment benefits or ownership of homes or motor vehicles
(Berkman & Macintrye, 1997). Wealth captures the stock of assets at a given point in
time, and economic reserves while income represents a flow resources over some
period of time.
The standard treatment for bacterial infections is the use of antibiotics. But about
30%-50% of antibiotic prescription in hospital setting are not appropriate or not
necessary. This can increase the danger or risk of antibiotic resistant infections.
Increasing proper use of antibiotics can decrease antibiotic resistance and can enhance
patient outcomes. An antibiotic utilization review was made for the aim of distinguishing
the frequency and types of infectious diseases giving to a large, teaching hospital
emergency department and the properness of the use of antibiotics in this area. An
antibiotic was prescribed in 27% of the visits means that a diagnosis of an infectious
disease was made. Infections of respiratory tract, skin, gastrointestinal tract and
urogenital system are the most common presenting diagnosis consisting more than
75% of cases. In nearly two-thirds of cases Penicillins and Sulfonamide were frequently
prescribed. In 78% of cases antibiotic prescribing was determined to be appropriate.
Improper use most frequently involved the utilization of prophylactic antibiotics in clean
laceration and the utilization of this antibiotic combination products that can cause
trauma to the eye.
The study “Socioeconomic factors and antibiotic use in relation to antimicrobial
resistance in the Amazonian are in Peru” was to connect antibiotic resistance in gut E.
coli flora of 6-72 months old children, with the utilization of antibiotics, socioeconomic
status and household characteristics in the urban communities of Yurimaguas and
Moyobamba in the Amazonian area of Peru. After the experiment, the researchers
concluded that children from wealthier families had higher resistance to a number of
antibiotics than the children from the least wealthy families. The researchers stated that
unknown factor related to socioeconomic status contribute to the results in the study.
There is also a study that titled, “ Socioeconomic factors associated with
antimicrobial resistance of Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Staphylococcus aureus, and
Escherichia coli in Chilean hospital (2008-2017)”. The objective of the study is to identity
socioeconomic factors associated with antimicrobial resistance of the said bacteria
above. In the literature review, there are evidence that suggest that poverty and material
deprivation are important risk factors for the emergence and transmission of
antimicrobial resistance. There are conclusion in many studies found that higher rates of
antimicrobial resistance were associated with worse socioeconomic indicators. In the
study, the researchers found a small but consistent negative association between
overall antimicrobial resistance and socioeconomic factors (education, income, and
occupation). The researchers concluded that the dissemination and emergence of
antimicrobial resistance maybe affected by socioeconomic factors beyond health care
and hospital settings. The researchers stated that it requires efforts above and beyond
in reducing antibiotic consumption in controlling and preventing antimicrobial resistance.
References:
 American Psychological Association. (n.d.). Socioeconomic Status. Retrieved January 20, 2021,
from https://www.apa.org/topics/socioeconomic-status#:~:text=Socioeconomic status is the
social,to privilege, power and control.
 Bernstein, L. R., Barriere, S. L., & Conte, J. E. (2005, March 18). Utilization of antibiotics: Analysis
of appropriateness of use. Retrieved January 20, 2021, from
https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S0196064482800346
 Kristiansson C;Grape M;Gotuzzo E;Samalvides F;Chauca J;Larsson M;Bartoloni A;Pallecchi
L;Kronvall G;Petzold M;. (n.d.). Socioeconomic factors and antibiotic use in relation to
antimicrobial resistance in the Amazonian area of Peru. Retrieved January 20, 2021, from
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/19253090/
 National Committee For Quality Insurance. (2020, August 05). Antibiotic Utilization. Retrieved
January 20, 2021, from https://www.ncqa.org/hedis/measures/antibiotic-
utilization/#:~:text=The use of antibiotics is,risk of antibiotic-resistant infections.
 Stewart, J. (2009, August). MacArthur SES & Health Network: Research. Retrieved January 20,
2021, from https://macses.ucsf.edu/research/socialenviron/economic.php
 Allel K;García P;Labarca J;Munita JM;Rendic M; ;Undurraga EA;. (2020). Socioeconomic factors
associated with antimicrobial resistance of Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Staphylococcus aureus,
and Escherichia coli in Chilean hospitals (2008-2017). Retrieved January 20, 2021, from
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/32973892/