A Review and Analysis of Prescription of Antibiotics in Patients with COVID-19

SARS-CoV-2 is a novel virus that has spread around the world with varied, experimental pharmacological treatment regimens for COVID-19 and antibiotics are being used to rule out bacterial co-infection.

Educational Objectives

Educational Aim:
The aim of this article is to provide information on research into the long-term repercussions of COVID-19 on antimicrobial resistance due to elevated antibiotic use in patients infected with SARS-CoV-2.

Editor's comments:
Per current published South African data, bacterial co-infection is rare at the time of ICU admission with COVID-19, supporting a strategy of withholding early empirical antibiotic therapy, which may help to limit antimicrobial resistance. Late infection was more common than early infection and was associated with intubation, length of stay and mortality. Infection prevention, strict use of PPE to protect both patients and staff from nosocomial infections, and oxygenation strategies that avoid intubation may therefore prove to be key strategies for COVID-19 care.

Educational Outcomes:
Upon completion of this module practitioners should have a clear understanding of:

1. antimicrobial stewardship principles which should guide the antibiotic management of patients with COVID-19 in order to avoid a further increase in antimicrobial resistance, which is a world-wide challenge.

Instructions for this Module

• Read the supplied reading material and complete the quiz that follows;
• You have three attempts to pass the quiz;
• The pass grade is 70%;
• You need to pass the quiz to claim your CPD certificate;
• Please click on the CPD certificate link below to claim your CPD certificate and to update your CPD Manager.

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