Changes in antibiotic prescribing following COVID-19 restrictions: Lessons for post-pandemic antibiotic stewardship.

Malcolm Bjørn GilliesDavid P BurgnerLorraine IvancicNatasha NassarJessica E MillerSheena G SullivanIsobel M F ToddSallie-Anne Pearson Andrea L Schaffer Helga Zoega

Published in: British journal of clinical pharmacology (2021)

In a setting with a low COVID-19 incidence, restrictions were associated with a substantial reduction in community dispensings of antibiotics primarily used to treat respiratory infections, coincident with reported reductions in respiratory viral infections. Our findings are informative for post-pandemic antimicrobial stewardship and highlight the potential to reduce inappropriate prescribing by GPs and specialists for respiratory viral infections.

Keyphrases

sars cov
coronavirus disease
primary care
respiratory syndrome coronavirus
healthcare
respiratory tract
mental health
risk factors
adverse drug
risk assessment
human health
climate change
acute care