ANKARA
The misuse of antibiotics to treat COVID-19 patients, a study in the U.S. found, raises widespread concerns about unnecessary antibiotic use during the pandemic.
According to the study by the nonprofit group Pew Charitable Trusts, more than half, 52%, of COVID-19 hospital patients in the U.S. received antibiotics in the first six months of the pandemic.
The more antibiotics are used, the faster the antibiotic-resistant bacteria come to fight them, causing “superbugs” – bacteria that are very difficult or impossible to handle with the drugs, a statement by the agency said Wednesday.
“Even if antibiotics do not cure viruses, including COVID-19, physicians who are concerned about secondary bacterial infections may nevertheless prescribe antibiotics to COVID-19 patients, sometimes before bacterial infection will be diagnosed, “he said.
“In most cases, COVID-19 patients were given antibiotics before an infectious bacterial infection was diagnosed,” the statement said, adding: “Compared to the number of COVID-19 patients in the hospital that received antibiotics, far fewer patients were admitted for COVID- 19 had common bacterial infections. “
In addition, the study found that patients who received antibiotics were more likely to be hospitalized for longer, as 60% of admissions with antibiotic medication were hospitalized for four days or more, compared to 20 % of admissions without a prescribed antibiotic lasting four or more days.
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