Antimicrobial Resistance, Fueled by the COVID-19 Pandemic. Policy Brief November 2021

Abstract

The COVID-19 pandemic has fueled the ongoing antimicrobial resistance (AMR) global crisis due to the increase in the use of antibiotics to treat COVID-19 patients, disruptions to infection prevention and control practices in overwhelmed health systems, and diversion of human and financial resources away from monitoring and responding to AMR threats. Moreover, AMR is likely to have caused more COVID-19 deaths, as secondary bacterial infections can worsen the outcome of severe and critical COVID-19 illness. Therefore, it is more urgent than ever to prioritize efforts towards AMR containment and support countries to improve the detection, characterization and rapid response to emerging AMR. This policy brief compiles strategic information for policy and decision makers to continue prioritizing the AMR response and implementation of developed national action plans on AMR while ensuring that adequate resources are allocated to the latter. It also encourages countries to measure and monitor the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on AMR epidemiology in the region.