The potential impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on global antimicrobial and biocide resistance: an AMR Insights global perspective
Shamshul Ansari, John P. Hays, Andrew H. Kemp, Raymond C. Okechukwu, Jayaseelan Murugaiyan, Mutshiene Deogratias Ekwanzala, Maria Josefina Ruiz Alvarez, Maneesh Paul‐Satyaseela, Chidozie Declan Iwu, Clara Ballesté‐Delpierre, Ed Septimus, Lawrence Mugisha, Joseph Fadare, Susmita Chaudhuri, Vindana Chibabhai, J M Rohini W W Wadanamby, Ziad Daoud, Yonghong Xiao, Thulasiraman Parkunan, Yara Khalaf, Nkuchia M. M’ikanatha, Maarten van Dongen, Global AMR Insights Ambassador Network, Herman W. Barkema, Steffanie A. Strathdee, Emmanuel Benyeogor, Leonard Ighodalo Uzairue, K. Pani Prasad, Carlos Meyer‐Regueiro, Yoshiaki Gu, Sabiha Y. Essack, Dilan de Silva, Akke Vellinga, Wagih Ghannam, Najib Auwal Tsoho, M.H.F. Sakeena, Rhoda Ilenwabor, Dhanuraj Shetty, Arnold Ayebare, Zoumana Traoré, Ola Henry, Amritanjali Kiran, Rhoda Ilenwabor, Luisa Fernanda Toro, Adil Smail, Anne V Amulele, Luria Leslie Founou, Prathamesh Sharad Sawant, Esther Buregyeya, Enrique Castro‐Sánchez, Javier Moreno, Mina Izadjoo, Andrea Gori, Debra A. Goff, Arielle Blocker, Giovanna Forte, Muhammad Farooq Tahir, Mathew Diggle, Dipanjan Chakraborty, Anita E Asamoah, Humphrey Aberi
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.