WHO warns of antibiotic misuse

The World Health Organization (WHO) said on Friday that there was widespread misuse of antibiotics throughout the global COVID-19 pandemic that has potentially fueled the propagation of antimicrobial resistance. Antibiotic use ranged from 33 per cent for patients in the Western Pacific Region to 83 per cent in the Eastern Mediterranean and the African Regions.

WHO said it was concerning that its study found that the antibiotics used had higher antimicrobial resistance potential than others that were available. Data was collected from some 450. 000 patients admitted to hospitals for COVID-19 in 65 countries over a three-year period between January 2020 and March 2023.