Emphasizing the importance of prudent antibiotic use decreases unrealistic perceptions of new antibiotic discoveries

The 2024 discovery of a new class of antibiotics is cause for cautious celebration. However, media coverage of this discovery shows overstated optimism, potentially leading to a false sense of safety in the general public.

We investigated whether informing participants about the discovery of new antibiotics changes their perceptions of new antibiotics as a solution to antimicrobial resistance and their expectations for receiving antibiotics for a hypothetical illness.

In two preregistered online experiments, participants read a fictional newspaper article. In the Optimistic news condition, participants read about antimicrobial resistance and the discovery of new antibiotics. In the Cautious news condition, they additionally received a message about the importance of prudent antibiotic use. In the Control condition, participants read about antimicrobial resistance only. In Study 1 (n = 404), participants encountered the article in a hypothetical doctor's consultation and indicated their expectations to receive antibiotics before and after reading the article, as well as their perception of the new antibiotics. Study 2 (n = 443) was a partial replication in a neutral context, independent of a doctor's consultation.

Antibiotic expectations decreased in all conditions after reading the article, which always provided information about antimicrobial resistance. However, unrealistic perceptions to solve antimicrobial resistance were higher in the Optimistic news condition (versus Control). This negative effect was mitigated in the Cautious news condition.

News about the development of new antibiotics can influence public perceptions about antimicrobial resistance. Balanced communication is important to prevent a false sense of safety.