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Review
. 2021 Apr 8;3(2):dlab038.
doi: 10.1093/jacamr/dlab038. eCollection 2021 Jun.

The potential impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on global antimicrobial and biocide resistance: an AMR Insights global perspective

Affiliations
Review

The potential impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on global antimicrobial and biocide resistance: an AMR Insights global perspective

Shamshul Ansari et al. JAC Antimicrob Resist. .

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.

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Figures

Figure 1.
Figure 1.
Timeline of severe human coronavirus strains.
Figure 2.
Figure 2.
The most relevant predictors playing a role in the global development of AMR in the face of the worldwide COVID-19 pandemic.
Figure 3.
Figure 3.
The key points to AMR control strategies in the age of COVID-19.

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