The potential impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on global antimicrobial and biocide resistance : an AMR Insights global perspective
Ansari, Shamshul; Hays, John P.; Kemp, Andrew; Okechukwu, Raymond; Murugaiyan, Jayaseelan; Ekwanzala, Mutshiene Deogratias; Ruiz Alvare, Maria Josefina; Paul-Satyaseela, Maneesh; Iwu, Chidozie Declan; Balleste-Delpierre, Clara; Septimus, Ed; Mugisha, Lawrence; Fadare, Joseph; Chaudhuri, Susmita; Chibabhai, Vindana; Wadanamby, J.M. Rohini W.W.; Daoud, Ziad; Xiao, Yonghong; Parkunan, Thulasiraman; Khalaf, Yara; Van Dongen, Maarten B. M.; Barkema, Herman W.; Strathdee, Steffanie; Benyeogor, Emmanuel; Ighodalo, Uzairue Leonard; Prasad, Kurcheti Pani; M., Carlos; Gu, Yoshiaki; Essack, Sabiha; De Silva, Dilan; Vellinga, Akke; Ghannam, Wagih Mommtaz; Tsoho, Najib Auwal; Sakeena, M.H.F.; Ilenwabor, Rhoda; Shetty, Dhanuraj (Raj); Ayebare, Arnold; Traore, Zoumana Isaa; Henry, Ola; Kiran, Amritanjali; Ilenwabor, Rhoda; Toro, Luisa Fernanda; Smail, Adil; Amulele, Anne; Founou, Luria Leslie; Sawant, Prathamesh S.; Buregyeya, Esther; Castro-Sanchez, Enrique; Moreno-Morales, Javier; Izadjoo, Mina; Gori, Andrea; Goff, Debra; Blocker, Arielle; Forte, Giovanna; Tahir, Muhammad Farooq; Diggle, Mathew; Chakraborty, Dipanjan; Asamoah, Anita E.; Humphrey Aberi
Date:
2021-06
Abstract:
The COVID-19 pandemic presents a serious public health challenge in all countries. However, repercussions of
severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) infections on future global health
are still being investigated, including the pandemic’s potential effect on the emergence and spread of global
antimicrobial resistance (AMR). Critically ill COVID-19 patients may develop severe complications, which may
predispose patients to infection with nosocomial bacterial and/or fungal pathogens, requiring the extensive
use of antibiotics. However, antibiotics may also be inappropriately used in milder cases of COVID-19
infection. Further, concerns such as increased biocide use, antimicrobial stewardship/infection control, AMR
awareness, the need for diagnostics (including rapid and point-of-care diagnostics) and the usefulness of
vaccination could all be components shaping the influence of the COVID-19 pandemic. In this publication, the
authors present a brief overview of the COVID-19 pandemic and associated issues that could influence
the pandemic’s effect on global AMR.
