1. Introduction
Antimicrobial resistance rates are increasing and the development of new antibiotics is slow, but the clinical burden currently posed by resistant bacteria is still perceived as low compared with other public health issues. Efforts aimed at reducing the burden of resistant bacteria, such as antimicrobial stewardship, rely upon individuals choosing to take actions that acknowledge that it is worthwhile trying to prevent the development of resistance. As many competing pressures exist in the clinical environment, allocating appropriate priority as an individual depends upon knowledge of the current situation, as well as of factors that will influence the future burden of resistance [1]. A few authors have reported that some clinicians were aware resistance was an important issue for hospitals, and that it would become a greater problem in the future [1,2]. However, very few authors have assessed how important medical students consider resistance to be, and what their perception of the issue is based on. These attitudes in turn depend of knowledge of the dynamics of resistance, and the successes of efforts to reduce the clinical burden posed by resistance.
Few authors have investigated the knowledge and attitudes of medical students on antibiotic prescribing [1,3–6]. Infections are however very common and most students who begin clinical practice will prescribe an antibiotic at some stage. The authors of studies conducted in the US, the UK, and in Ireland have consistently identified gaps in knowledge regarding antibiotic prescribing among medical students [3–6]. Only one American study had for objective to assess the knowledge, attitudes, and beliefs of medical students concerning antimicrobial use and resistance, to the best of our knowledge [1]. The authors reported that medical students acknowledged the importance of prudent antibiotic use and wanted more training on how to choose antibiotics appropriately [1]. Medical students are at a point in their clinical careers when they have time to learn in an open-minded way [1,7].