Antimicrobial Resistance Threats in the emerging COVID-19 pandemic: Where do we stand?

Soumya Ghosh; Charné Bornman; Mai M Zafer

doi:10.1016/j.jiph.2021.02.011

Antimicrobial Resistance Threats in the emerging COVID-19 pandemic: Where do we stand?

J Infect Public Health. 2021 May;14(5):555-560. doi: 10.1016/j.jiph.2021.02.011. Epub 2021 Mar 5.

Authors

Soumya Ghosh¹, Charné Bornman¹, Mai M Zafer²

Affiliations

¹ Department of Genetics, Faculty of Natural and Agricultural Sciences, University of the Free State, Bloemfontein, South Africa.
² Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Faculty of Pharmacy, Ahram Canadian University, Giza, Egypt. Electronic address: maizafer@acu.edu.eg.

Abstract

Antimicrobial resistance (AMR) continues to exert a substantial toll on the global health and world economy and is now expected to be hidden by COVID-19 for a while. The wrong consumption of antibiotics during the COVID-19 pandemic will raise disastrous effects on AMR management and antibiotic stewardship programs. This is related to the concerns extrapolated due to an increase in mortality rates in patients with bacterial coinfections. Importantly, the immune system of COVID-19 patients in regions with high AMR may be fighting on two fronts altogether, the virus and MDR bacteria. Current control policies to manage AMR and prioritization of antibiotic stewardship plans are mandatory during this pandemic. This review aims to discuss the rising concerns of the excess use of antibiotics in COVID-19 patients highlighting the role of bacterial coinfections in these patients. Types of prescribed antibiotics and the development of antibiotic resistance is addressed as well.

Keywords: Antimicrobial resistance; COVID-19; Secondary bacterial infection; Stewardship.

Publication types

Review

MeSH terms

Anti-Bacterial Agents* / pharmacology
Anti-Bacterial Agents* / therapeutic use
COVID-19*
Drug Resistance, Bacterial
Humans
Pandemics
SARS-CoV-2

Substances

Anti-Bacterial Agents