What is a potential consequence of overusing antibiotics in healthcare settings?

The consequence of overusing antibiotics in healthcare settings, particularly in relation to increased pathogen resistance, is a significant and well-documented issue. When antibiotics are used excessively, bacteria can adapt and evolve mechanisms to survive despite the presence of these drugs, leading to the development of antibiotic-resistant strains. This resistance not only complicates treatment options but can also result in prolonged hospital stays, increased medical costs, and a higher likelihood of severe illness or death due to infections that become untreatable with standard antibiotics.

The other choices do not reflect the realities of antibiotic overuse. Improved patient recovery and lower healthcare costs are not outcomes associated with overuse; instead, antibiotic resistance can lead to harder-to-treat infections, thereby potentially delaying recovery and increasing costs. Similarly, faster diagnosis of infections is not a direct consequence of antibiotic overuse; in fact, reliance on antibiotics can obscure the need for accurate diagnoses since they can mask the symptoms of infections or lead to inappropriate treatment decisions. Thus, increased pathogen resistance is indeed a primary and alarming outcome of overusing antibiotics in healthcare.