COVID and AMR: Crisis Reframes Antibiotics Fight

It is not yet clear how COVID-19 will ultimately impact AMR. Early in the crisis, use of antibiotics including azithromycin and ceftriaxone spiked, and 72% to 92% of patients received antibiotics despite there being no clear evidence that COVID-19 patients are more susceptible to bacterial infections than those with flu-like illnesses.2 Recent reports indicate that antimicrobial stewardship (AMS) is back on track. It is possible that AMS, combined with a concurrent reduction in elective procedures and antibiotics use for outpatient and other indications, has kept overall antimicrobial use relatively flat. However, the redirection of healthcare and life sciences resources to COVID-19 has taken focus from other areas of need, including AMR.