The World Health Organization (WHO) reported this Friday about the overuse of antibiotics during the Covid-19 pandemic, warning that it could lead to worsening antimicrobial resistance (AMR) worldwide.
New data from the U.N. health agency shows that about 75% of hospitalized patients were treated with antibiotics “as a precaution,” although only 8% of them had underlying bacterial infections and required this type of medication, according to the WHO statement. .
Antibiotic use “ranges from 33% in patients in the Western Pacific region to 83% in the Eastern Mediterranean and African regions,” he says, adding that between 2020 and 2022, prescriptions “declined in Europe and America, while as it has increased in Africa.”
According to the study, those with severe or critical illness had the highest levels of antibiotic use (global average 81%), while mild to moderate cases showed “important differences” between regions, with Africa having the highest level of antibiotic use. (79%).
WHO classifies antibiotics into three groups based on the risk of AMR and according to the AWaRe (Access, Surveillance, Reserve) list. The study concluded that drugs in the second group, “those with greater potential for resistance, were the most commonly prescribed drugs worldwide,” which worries the organization.
“When a patient requires antibiotics, the benefits often outweigh the risks associated with side effects or antibiotic resistance. However, when not needed, these drugs provide no benefit and still carry risks, and their use contributes to the emergence and proliferation of antibiotics. antimicrobial resistance,” said Silvia Bertagnolio, head of surveillance in the department associated with the WHO RAM referred to in the statement.
“These data draw attention to the need to improve antibiotic stewardship to minimize unnecessary negative consequences for patients and the public,” he added.
This work will be complemented by a synthesis and systematic assessment of the evidence and will inform future WHO recommendations on the use of antibiotics in patients with Covid-19 as part of clinical management standards.
The data analyzed in the study comes from the WHO Global Clinical Platform for Covid-19, covering about 450,000 patients hospitalized for the disease in 65 countries over a three-year period (January 2020 to March 2023).
The findings will be presented at the European Society of Clinical Microbiology and Infectious Diseases (ESCMID) Global Congress, which starts on Saturday and runs until April 30 in Barcelona, Spain.
Author: Lusa
Source: CM Jornal
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