Dataset Information

Global antibiotic use during the COVID-19 pandemic: analysis of pharmaceutical sales data from 71 countries, 2020-2022.

ABSTRACT:

Background

Despite bacterial coinfection rates of less than 10%, antibiotics are prescribed to an estimated 75% of patients with COVID-19, potentially exacerbating antimicrobial resistance. We estimated the associations of COVID-19 cases and vaccinations with global antibiotic sales during the first two years of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Methods

We obtained monthly data on broad-spectrum antibiotic sales volumes (cephalosporins, penicillins, macrolides, and tetracyclines) in 71 countries during March 2020-May 2022 from the IQVIA MIDAS® database. These data were combined with country-month-level COVID-19 case and vaccination data from Our World in Data. We used least squares (pooled) and fixed-effects panel data regression models, accounting for country characteristics, to estimate the associations between antibiotic sales volumes and COVID-19 cases and vaccinations per 1000 people.

Findings

Sales of all four antibiotics fell sharply during April and May 2020, followed by a gradual rise to near pre-pandemic levels through May 2022. In fixed-effects regression models, a 10% increase in monthly COVID-19 cases was associated with 0.2%-0.3% higher sales of cephalosporins, 0.2%-0.3% higher sales of penicillins, 0.4%-0.6% higher sales of macrolides, and 0.3% higher sales of all four antibiotics combined per 1000 people. Across continents, a 10% increase in monthly COVID-19 cases was associated with 0.8%, 1.3%, and 1.5% higher macrolides sales in Europe, North America, and Africa respectively. Sales of other antibiotics across continent were also positively associated with COVID-19 cases, although the estimated associations were smaller in magnitude. No consistent associations were observed between antibiotic sales and COVID-19 vaccinations. Results from pooled regression analysis were similar to those from the fixed-effects models.

Interpretation

Antibiotic sales were positively associated with COVID-19 cases globally during 2020-2022. Our findings underline that antibiotic stewardship in the context of COVID-19 remains essential.

Funding

Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation.

SUBMITTER: Nandi A

PROVIDER: S-EPMC9900305 | biostudies-literature | 2023 Mar

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature

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Publications

Global antibiotic use during the COVID-19 pandemic: analysis of pharmaceutical sales data from 71 countries, 2020-2022.

Nandi Arindam A Pecetta Simone S Bloom David E DE

EClinicalMedicine 20230206

<h4>Background</h4>Despite bacterial coinfection rates of less than 10%, antibiotics are prescribed to an estimated 75% of patients with COVID-19, potentially exacerbating antimicrobial resistance. We estimated the associations of COVID-19 cases and vaccinations with global antibiotic sales during the first two years of the COVID-19 pandemic.<h4>Methods</h4>We obtained monthly data on broad-spectrum antibiotic sales volumes (cephalosporins, penicillins, macrolides, and tetracyclines) in 71 count ...[more]

PMID: 36776504

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Dataset Information

Global antibiotic use during the COVID-19 pandemic: analysis of pharmaceutical sales data from 71 countries, 2020-2022.

Background

Methods

Findings

Interpretation

Funding

Publications

Global antibiotic use during the COVID-19 pandemic: analysis of pharmaceutical sales data from 71 countries, 2020-2022.

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