Increased antimicrobial resistance during the COVID-19 pandemic

In addition to SARS-CoV-2 (severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2) infection itself, an increase in the incidence of antimicrobial resistance poses collateral damage to the current status of the COVID-19 (coronavirus disease 2019) pandemic. There has been a rapid increase in multidrugresistant organisms (MDROs), including extended-spectrum ?-lactamase (ESBL)-producing Klebsiella pneumoniae , carbapenem-resistant New Delhi metallo- ?-lactamase (NDM)-producing Enterobacterales, Acinetobacter baumannii , methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA), pan-echinocandin-resistant Candida glabrata and multi-triazole-resistant Aspergillus fumigatus . The cause is multifactorial and is particularly related to high rates of antimicrobial agent utilisation in COVID-19 patients with a relatively low rate of co- or secondary infection. Appropriate prescription and optimised use of antimicrobials according to the principles of antimicrobial stewardship as well as quality diagnosis and aggressive infection control measures may help prevent the occurrence of MDROs during this pandemic. ? 2021 Elsevier Ltd and International Society of Antimicrobial Chemotherapy. All rights reserved.

Automated summary

During the COVID-19 pandemic, the rapid increase in multidrug-resistant organisms is attributed to the high utilization of antimicrobial agents in COVID-19 patients with a comparatively low infection rate. To prevent the occurrence of MDROs, appropriate prescription and optimized use of antimicrobials according to antimicrobial stewardship principles, along with quality diagnosis and aggressive infection control measures, are recommended.