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

Ansari, Shamshul; Hays, John P; Kemp, Andrew; Okechukwu, Raymond; Murugaiyan, Jayaseelan; Ekwanzala, Mutshiene Deogratias; Ruiz Alvarez, Maria Josefina; Paul-Satyaseela, Maneesh; Iwu, Chidozie Declan; Balleste-Delpierre, Clara; Septimus, Ed; Mugisha, Lawrence; Fadare, Joseph; Chaudhuri, Susmita; Chibabhai, Vindana; Wadanamby, J M Rohini W W; Daoud, Ziad; Xiao, Yonghong; Parkunan, Thulasiraman; Khalaf, Yara; M’Ikanatha, Nkuchia M; van Dongen, Maarten B M

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.