COVID-19, antibiotics and One Health: a UK environmental risk assessment

There is growing interest in the role of secondary bacterial and fungal infections as a cause of increased morbidity and mortality in COVID-19 patients, with reports of up to 95% of COVID-19 inpatients being prescribed antibiotics. Concerns have been raised over the environmental implications of such a large-scale drug administration and statements made about the potential impacts of COVID-19-related antibiotic prescription on antimicrobial resistance (AMR) and other toxicological effects on the environment.