During the Covid-19 pandemic, hospitals overused antibiotics on patients who might not have needed them, according to a new World Health Organisation (WHO) study.
The study found that although just 8% of hospitalised Covid patients suffered from bacterial co-infections requiring antibiotics, a staggering 75% were treated with them as a precaution. Severe coronavirus symptom bearers were predominantly the recipients of these antibiotics.
The WHO separates antibiotics into three categories: Access, Watch, and Reserve. It is alarming that the most used antibiotics were those in the Watch category, which requires consideration of potential resistances. Overuse of antibiotics during the pandemic could therefore potentially have driven a rise in resistance to these drugs.
"When a patient requires antibiotics, the benefits usually outweigh the risks of side effects or antibiotic resistance. But, if these drugs are not necessary, they provide no advantage and only pose risks. Unnecessary usage contributes to the spread of antimicrobial resistance," said the WHO.
In the wake of the pandemic's most severe periods, antibiotic use has reduced in Europe and the United States. However, the WHO still urges doctors and hospitals to maintain a "rational approach" to their usage.
