COVID-19 Pandemic: A Lesson for Antibiotic and Antiseptic Stewardship

Abstract

Antibiotic resistance (AMR) is one of the major public health threats, with 700,000 annual deaths worldwide and an estimated 10 million per year by 2050. Efforts are made to establish antibiotic stewardship to minimize un-reversible AMR disasters. Yet, nowadays, when all medical and financial efforts are zoomed towards the COVID-19 pandemic, fundamental antibiotic and antiseptic stewardships are overlooked in favor of reducing the spread of the severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus (SAR-CoV-2), illness and death. On the other hand, public health measures, including social distance, reduction in international traveling, increased hygiene, and wearing facial masks are all means that may contribute to the prevention of the spreading of AMR bacteria. Hence, the COVID-19 pandemic maybe a worldwide turning point regarding AMR, for better or worse.