According to new evidence from the World Health Organization (WHO), there has been extensive overuse of antibiotics during the COVID-19 pandemic worldwide. This overuse could potentially worsen the issue of antimicrobial resistance (AMR), a growing global concern.
The WHO found that while only 8% of hospitalized COVID-19 patients had bacterial co-infections that required antibiotics, a staggering 75% were treated with antibiotics as a precautionary measure. This unnecessary use of antibiotics varied across regions, with the highest rates seen in the Eastern Mediterranean and African Regions.
In Africa specifically, there was an increase in antibiotic use between 2020 and 2022, while Europe and the Americas saw a decrease. The highest rates of antibiotic use were observed in patients with severe or critical COVID-19 cases.
The most concerning finding was that the antibiotics with higher resistance potential, known as ‘Watch’ antibiotics, were the most frequently prescribed globally. Despite this widespread use, antibiotics did not improve clinical outcomes for COVID-19 patients and may have actually caused harm to those without bacterial infections.
The WHO is stressing the importance of rational use of antibiotics to minimize these negative consequences. Data from the WHO Global Clinical Platform for COVID-19 was used for this study, which will be discussed at the upcoming UN General Assembly High-Level Meeting on AMR in September.
These findings underscore the urgent need to adequately resource efforts to improve antibiotic prescribing practices on a global scale. As the world continues to battle the COVID-19 pandemic, it is crucial to address the issue of antibiotic overuse to prevent further harm and preserve the effectiveness of these life-saving medications.
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