Antimicrobial use in Sweden during the COVID-19 pandemic: prescription fill and inpatient care requisition patterns.

ABSTRACT:

Background

Increased and inappropriate antimicrobial use are the key drivers of the emergence of antimicrobial resistance, and there have been widespread concerns around potential antimicrobial misuse, overuse and their consequences during the COVID-19 pandemic. To better understand the impact of the pandemic on antimicrobial use, particularly in light of the resurgence of COVID-19 cases since the summer of 2020, we assessed trends in antimicrobial prescription fills and hospital requisitions in Sweden during 2020 against those of preceding years.

Methods

We performed a descriptive study using population-based data from the Swedish Prescribed Drug Register and the Swedish e-Health Agency. The weekly number of prescriptions filled and the total volume sold to inpatient care i

SUBMITTER: Nakitanda AO 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC9128331 | biostudies-literature | 2022 May

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature