Suboptimal antimicrobial stewardship in the COVID-19 era: is humanity staring at a postantibiotic future?

Area of Science:

• Infectious Diseases
• Microbiology
• Pharmacology

Background:

• Bacterial infections pose a significant global health threat, potentially causing millions of deaths without effective antimicrobial agents.
• The emergence of COVID-19 and its associated coinfections has led to the widespread use of antibiotic combinations.
• Suboptimal antimicrobial stewardship and slow drug discovery rates exacerbate the risk of antimicrobial resistance.

Purpose of the Study:

• To analyze the implications of suboptimal antimicrobial stewardship during the COVID-19 pandemic on the spread of antimicrobial resistance.
• To highlight the urgent need for judicious use of existing antimicrobial agents.

Main Methods:

• Literature review and analysis of current trends in antimicrobial usage and resistance.
• Examination of the impact of COVID-19 treatment protocols on antimicrobial stewardship.
• Assessment of the potential for increased antimicrobial resistance due to current practices.

Main Results:

• The COVID-19 era has seen an increase in antibiotic prescriptions, often without clear bacterial coinfection, contributing to suboptimal stewardship.
• This practice accelerates the development and spread of antimicrobial resistance, threatening future therapeutic efficacy.
• The slow pace of new antimicrobial drug discovery further compounds the problem.

Conclusions:

• The COVID-19 pandemic has created a critical juncture where antimicrobial resistance is likely to accelerate.
• Urgent and effective antimicrobial stewardship strategies are imperative to mitigate the growing threat of drug-resistant pathogens.
• Preserving the efficacy of current antimicrobials is essential for managing both existing and future infectious disease outbreaks.