Antibiotic Resistance during COVID-19: A Systematic Review

Hadi Jaber Al Sulayyim, Rohani Ismail, Abdullah Al Hamid and Noraini Abdul Ghafar ()
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Hadi Jaber Al Sulayyim: Interdisciplinary Health Unit, School of Health Science, Universiti Sains Malaysia (Health Campus), Kubang Kerian 11800, Kelantan, Malaysia
Rohani Ismail: Interdisciplinary Health Unit, School of Health Science, Universiti Sains Malaysia (Health Campus), Kubang Kerian 11800, Kelantan, Malaysia
Abdullah Al Hamid: Saudi Ministry of Health, Najran 11134, Saudi Arabia
Noraini Abdul Ghafar: Biomedicine Program, School of Health Science, Universiti Sains Malaysia (Health Campus), Kubang Kerian 11800, Kelantan, Malaysia

IJERPH, 2022, vol. 19, issue 19, 1-16

Abstract: One of the public health issues faced worldwide is antibiotic resistance (AR). During the novel coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic, AR has increased. Since some studies have stated AR has increased during the COVID-19 pandemic, and others have stated otherwise, this study aimed to explore this impact. Seven databases—PubMed, MEDLINE, EMBASE, Scopus, Cochrane, Web of Science, and CINAHL—were searched using related keywords to identify studies relevant to AR during COVID-19 published from December 2019 to May 2022, according to PRISMA guidelines. Twenty-three studies were included in this review, and the evidence showed that AR has increased during the COVID-19 pandemic. The most commonly reported resistant Gram-negative bacteria was Acinetobacter baumannii , followed by Klebsiella pneumonia , Escherichia coli , and Pseudomonas aeruginosa . A. baumannii and K. pneumonia were highly resistant to tested antibiotics compared with E. coli and P. aeruginosa . Moreover, K. pneumonia showed high resistance to colistin. Commonly reported Gram-positive bacteria were Staphylococcus aureus and Enterococcus faecium . The resistance of E. faecium to ampicillin, erythromycin, and Ciprofloxacin was high. Self-antibiotic medication, empirical antibiotic administration, and antibiotics prescribed by general practitioners were the risk factors of high levels of AR during COVID-19. Antibiotics’ prescription should be strictly implemented, relying on the Antimicrobial Stewardship Program (ASP) and guidelines from the World Health Organization (WHO) or Ministry of Health (MOH).

Keywords: antibiotic resistance; common antibiotic-resistant bacteria; COVID-19; SARS-2 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: I I1 I3 Q Q5 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2022
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