Abstract:
Antimicrobial resistance has become one of the most critical challenges in
contemporary public health due to its rapid evolution and direct impacts on mortality,
length of hospital stay, and complexity of hospital care. This study aimed to identify,
through a literature review, the main factors that favor the increase of antimicrobial
resistance in hospital settings and analyze its clinical and healthcare repercussions.
The study was structured around three axes: factors associated with the inappropriate
use of antimicrobials, the importance of the correct use of these drugs for future
therapeutic effectiveness, and the role of the pharmacist in the prevention and
management of infections. The literature reviewed shows that practices such as
inappropriate prescribing, self-medication, indiscriminate use of antibiotics, and
dispensing errors contribute directly to the selection of resistant microorganisms. It also
demonstrates that the rational use of antimicrobials, in line with care protocols, reduces
therapeutic failures and improves clinical outcomes. In this context, the pharmacist
emerges as an essential agent in the multidisciplinary team, acting in the review of
prescriptions, patient guidance, continuing education of teams, health surveillance,
and participation in Stewardship Programs. It is concluded that strengthening
pharmaceutical clinical practice is fundamental to promoting patient safety, improving
care, and contributing effectively to combating antimicrobial resistance in hospitals.
