Evolution of Antimicrobial Resistance in the Era of COVID-19

Abstract

Antimicrobial resistance is a slow-growing phenomenon that could even be a reason for a future pandemic. Due to inappropriate diagnosis and consumption of antibiotics, the bacteria have become resistant to the antibiotics used. In the era of COVID-19, this blind consumption of antibiotics has rapidly increased due to the period of quarantine and fear of the disease. Ligue to the fear of the pandemic, especially in ru, rural areas, many patients avoid going to the hospital and consuming antibiotics without any prescription. Various retrospective studies have shown a relationship between bacterial co-infection and AMR, which is increased in the era of COVID-19. Also, the secondary bacterial infections associated with the pandemic of COVID-19 have added to the risk of antimicrobial resistance. The viral effect on the respiratory system is favorable for bacterial infection, as in the case of COVID-19 affecting the respiratory tract followed by co-bacterial infection in some cases. COVID-19 has affected AMR in many aspects. Proper antibiotic resistance tests should be performed before prescribing any antibiotics to the patient to reduce the chances of AMR, especially in such an obnoxious situation of COVID-19. This crucially calls for a brand new and effective plan of action to attenuate the influence of the pandemic on antimicrobial resistance. Statistics of various countries in matters of antimicrobial resistance have shown an increase in AMR due to the concentration of health workers, researchers, and population on the pandemic associated with COVID-19. This calls for the necessity to aware the population worldwide about antimicrobial resistance and how it could be a hidden menace in the future and could probably prove to be a matter of concern as it would worsen the condition of the patients in a particular disease and would decrease the various possible aspects of the treatment especially in case of treatment based on antibiotics.