WHO links antibiotics overuse during COVID pandemic to antimicrobial resistance

The World Health Organisation (WHO) says new evidence shows that the extensive overuse of antibiotics during the COVID-19 pandemic may have exacerbated the ‘silent’ spread of antimicrobial resistance (AMR).

Antimicrobial resistance occurs when germs like bacteria and fungi develop the ability to defeat drugs designed to kill them. Its spread is accelerated by the misuse and overuse of antibiotics.

In a report on Friday, the WHO said during the pandemic, antibiotic use ranged from 33 percent for patients in the western pacific region, to 83 percent in the eastern Mediterranean and the African Regions.

The organisation said between 2020 and 2022, prescriptions decreased over time in Europe and the Americas, while  increasing in Africa.

“While only 8% of hospitalized patients with COVID-19 had bacterial co-infections requiring antibiotics, three out of four or some 75% of patients have been treated with antibiotics ‘just in case’ they help,” the report reads.

“Highest rate of antibiotic use was seen among patients with severe or critical COVID-19, with a global average of 81%. In mild or moderate cases, there was a considerable variation across regions, with the highest use in the African Region (79%).

“WHO classifies antibiotics as per AWaRe (Access, Watch, Reserve) classification, according to the risk of AMR. Concerningly, the study found that ‘Watch’ antibiotics with higher resistance potential were most frequently prescribed globally.”

The WHO said overall, antibiotic use did not improve clinical outcomes for patients with COVID-19, but created harm for people without bacterial infection.

“This underscores the urgent need to improve the rational use of antibiotics to minimize unnecessary negative consequences for both patients and populations,” the report reads.

“These findings are based on data from the WHO Global Clinical Platform for COVID-19, a repository of standardized individual-level, anonymized clinical data from patients hospitalized with COVID-19.

“Data was collected from some 450,000 patients admitted to hospitals for COVID-19 in 65 countries over a 3-year period between January 2020 and March 2023.

“The findings are being presented in a WHO scientific poster shared at the ESCMID Global Congress, taking place in Barcelona, Spain on 27-30 April.”