The World Health Organization (WHO) has released evidence showing extensive overuse of antibiotics during the COVID-19 pandemic worldwide. According to the WHO’s findings, 75% of COVID-19 patients were treated with antibiotics “just in case.” The use of antibiotics varied across regions, with the highest rates in the Eastern Mediterranean and African regions.
The highest antibiotic use was seen in patients with severe or critical COVID-19 cases. Concerningly, antibiotics with higher resistance potential, known as ‘Watch’ antibiotics, were the most frequently prescribed. Despite the widespread use of antibiotics, the WHO found that antibiotic use did not improve clinical outcomes for COVID-19 patients.
There is an urgent need to improve the rational use of antibiotics to minimize negative consequences. These findings are based on data from the WHO Global Clinical Platform for COVID-19 and were shared in a scientific poster at the ESCMID Global Congress in Barcelona.
Efforts to improve antibiotic prescribing globally need to be adequately resourced. This discussion comes ahead of the upcoming UN High-Level Meeting on Antimicrobial Resistance (AMR) in September, where stakeholders will address AMR across various sectors and promote actions to slow its spread.
It is crucial for healthcare professionals to carefully consider antibiotic use in COVID-19 cases and to follow evidence-based guidelines. By improving antibiotic prescribing practices, we can help prevent the spread of antimicrobial resistance and ensure effective treatment for patients with COVID-19 and other infectious diseases.
