During the corona pandemic, hospitals far too often treated patients with antibiotics, when this was not actually necessary. As a result, antibiotic resistance may have increased, according to new research from the World Health Organization (WHO). Although only 8% of admitted COVID patients had bacterial co-infections that required antibiotics, 75% were still treated with them “just in case they would help.”
Patients with severe corona symptoms in particular were given antibiotics.
The WHO has divided antibiotics into three categories: Access, Watch and Reserve. She therefore finds it disturbing that antibiotics belonging to Watch, which must take possible resistance into account, were used most often. As a result, antibiotic use during the corona pandemic may have had consequences for increased antibiotic resistance.
“When a patient needs antibiotics, the benefits often outweigh the risks of side effects or antibiotic resistance. However, when they are unnecessary, they provide no benefit and carry risks. Unnecessary use therefore contributes to the spread of antibiotics. antimicrobial resistance,” the WHO said.
After the most serious corona peaks, the use of antibiotics in Europe and America has fallen again. The World Health Organization still calls on doctors and hospitals to “continue to be rational” in their use.
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Tags: criticizes unnecessary antibiotic treatments corona crisis
