During the COVID-19 pandemic, a concerning trend of excessive and inappropriate antibiotic use has emerged, contributing to the global issue of antimicrobial resistance. The World Health Organization (WHO) has shared alarming data revealing that while only 8% of COVID-19 patients hospitalized had bacterial co-infections necessitating antibiotics, a staggering three out of four patients were prescribed these medications “just in case.”
Despite WHO’s clear guidelines stating that COVID-19 is of viral origin and does not routinely require antibiotics, many healthcare professionals worldwide resorted to prescribing them as a precautionary measure due to the urgent and uncertain circumstances. This overprescribing phenomenon was observed globally, with antibiotic utilization rates ranging from 33% to 83% across different regions.
The WHO has cautioned against the risks associated with this practice. Besides exposing patients to unnecessary side effects, inappropriate antibiotic use heightens the threat of antimicrobial resistance. Each unjustified exposure to antibiotics promotes the development of resistant bacterial strains, diminishing the effectiveness of antibiotics in treating genuine bacterial infections. This concern is exacerbated by the fact that the antibiotics administered during the pandemic have an elevated potential for inducing antimicrobial resistance.
The prevalent use of antibiotics was particularly notable in severe or critical COVID-19 cases, with an average of 81% of patients receiving these medications globally. This disturbing trend underscores the importance of raising awareness among healthcare professionals and the general public about the significance of limiting antibiotic use to confirmed cases of bacterial co-infections.
A WHO study based on data from its Global Clinical Platform for COVID-19, analyzing records of 450,000 hospitalized patients across 65 countries, underscores the magnitude of this issue and emphasizes the urgent need for proactive measures to curb antimicrobial resistance. This critical topic will be deliberated during the upcoming Global Congress of the European Society of Clinical Microbiology and Infectious Diseases, providing a unique opportunity to educate and mobilize healthcare stakeholders on an international scale.
In conclusion, combating antimicrobial resistance is a paramount public health concern, with the COVID-19 pandemic underscoring the imperative for judicious antibiotic use. It is crucial for healthcare professionals and authorities to intensify efforts in advocating for the prudent prescription of antibiotics to ensure their sustained efficacy in treating bacterial infections.
For further information on the topic, you can check out the external article linked [here](http://www.africanews.com/2024/04/27/who-raises-concerns-about-overuse-of-antibiotics/).