Spike in antibiotic use during coronavirus pandemic could lead to more resistant bacterial infections: Experts

Complications from COVID-19 could potentially fuel antibiotic resistance, and lead to more resistant bacterial infections, warn scientists. While SARS-CoV-2, the pathogen responsible for COVID-19, is a virus, the disease can lead to conditions that require antibiotic treatment, including bacterial pneumonia, say experts. 

Antibiotic resistance is a serious worldwide threat to public health, says the WHO. Experts say in severe cases, it can be difficult to determine if pneumonia in a COVID-19 patient is viral or bacterial in nature, and the severity of the condition may require urgent action. The incorrect administration of antibiotics is secondary to the main goal of saving lives, but some experts are highlighting this as a growing concern. A myriad of complex factors could impact antimicrobial resistance (AMR) in the US and around the world, they caution.