“We use it a lot for everything”: Antibioticalization and everyday life in a refugee camp in Lebanon

The article examines the factors influencing antibiotic use in the Shatila refugee camp in Lebanon. It focuses on the omnipresence of antibiotics in a context of scarcity and their use as a quick-fix for everyday ailments. The study reveals that the camp residents often self-medicate with antibiotics for various purposes, leading to increased antimicrobial resistance. The authors propose the concept of “antibioticalization,” a pervasive and generalized use of antibiotics, especially in healthcare and resource scarcity contexts. This highlights the need for better understanding of antibiotic use in low-income settings.