The World Health Organization (WHO) has raised concerns over the misuse of antibiotics during the Covid-19 pandemic, exacerbating the issue of antimicrobial resistance. Despite only eight percent of Covid-19 patients requiring antibiotics for bacterial co-infections, three-fourths were prescribed antibiotics, mainly as a precautionary measure.
The highest usage of antibiotics was observed in severe or critical Covid-19 cases, with a global average of 81 percent, particularly in the Eastern Mediterranean and African regions at 83 percent. The report, based on clinical data from 65 countries over three years, highlighted that “watch” antibiotics, with higher resistance potential, were most frequently prescribed worldwide.
Dr. Sangeeta Sharma, president of the Delhi Society for Promotion of Rational Use of Drugs, emphasized the consequences of antibiotic resistance, stating, “Increase in antibiotic resistance means stronger medicines are needed to treat the same infections subsequently. It also means that with increased resistance, more people die of infections, there are more complications, and the hospital stays are longer.”
In India, the use of antibiotics, including during the Covid-19 pandemic, is notably high. A survey across 20 tertiary care hospitals in India found that 71.9 percent of patients were prescribed antibiotics, with 55 percent given as a preventive measure rather than for treatment. Only six percent of antibiotics were prescribed to treat a diagnosed infection, while the remainder were empirically prescribed.
Dr. Sharma emphasized that antibiotics should not be given to individuals with viral infections, as they do not prevent bacterial infections and can contribute to antibiotic resistance. Antibiotics should only be prescribed when necessary, and rapid diagnostic kits should be used whenever possible to identify infections. Antibiotics are also not recommended as prophylaxis before all surgeries, only before procedures involving a high risk of infection.