ABSTRACT
This review aims to document the excessive use and misuse of antibiotics for the treatment of upper respiratory tract injection [URTI]. This issue constitutes a world wide public health threat particularly in the Middle East. Factors contributing to this health threat including human behaviours that influence the non discriminatory use of antibiotics [with or without prescription] will be discussed. Evidence for the negative consequences of this phenomenon on human health and health care costs will be documented and current approaches to overcome this problem will be explored. The review supports the notion that URTI is the most common reason for consulting a general practitioner and for prescribing antibiotics in primary health care centres. Evidence is provided to indicate that human behaviours on both the physician and patient sides play a major role in over prescribing of antibiotics for these self limiting conditions. It is concluded that inappropriate use of antibiotics for the treatment of URTI has led to the development of resistant respiratory pathogens with serious public health implications combined with inflation of health care costs. We contend that educational intervention programmes for physicians in primary health care practice, plus health educational programmes on URTI and use of antibiotics for the public may improve antibiotic prescribing quality