Impact of the COVID-19 Pandemic on Inpatient Antibiotic Consumption in Switzerland

Area of Science:

• Infectious Diseases
• Pharmacology
• Public Health

Background:

• The COVID-19 pandemic significantly impacted healthcare systems globally.
• Antibiotic stewardship is crucial, especially during viral outbreaks where secondary bacterial infections are a concern.

Purpose of the Study:

• To analyze inpatient antibiotic consumption patterns in Switzerland during the initial 16 months of the COVID-19 pandemic.
• To investigate the relationship between COVID-19 patient numbers and antibiotic use, focusing on broad-spectrum agents.

Main Methods:

• Retrospective analysis of inpatient antibiotic consumption (defined daily doses per 100 bed-days) from January 2018 to June 2021.
• Data segmented into pre-pandemic, first wave, second wave, and intermediate periods.
• Segmented regression and correlation analyses to assess trends and associations with COVID-19 hospitalizations.

Main Results:

• Overall inpatient antibiotic consumption remained stable in the first pandemic year (+1.7%), with a slight increase in ICUs (+4.2%).
• Broad-spectrum antibiotic consumption rose significantly (+12.3% overall, +17.3% in ICUs).
• Positive correlations found between COVID-19 patient numbers and both total and broad-spectrum antibiotic consumption, particularly in ICUs.

Conclusions:

• Inpatient antibiotic use in Switzerland varied across pandemic phases, with a notable increase in broad-spectrum agents.
• The rise in broad-spectrum antibiotic consumption was linked to the number of hospitalized COVID-19 patients, highlighting the need for antimicrobial stewardship during pandemics.