Antibiotic resistance - a new challenge following the COVID-19 pandemic

Abstract

Antibiotic resistance represents a huge challenge to mankind, directly affecting human and animal health. The importance of the problem is reinforced by the fact that no new effective antibiotics are expected to be introduced in the next 10-15 years, and the impact of antibiotic resistance on health is expected to increase exponentially in the coming decades. Various sources describe a significant increase in the use of antibiotics during the COVID-19 pandemic, which hides a danger of the development of highly resistant microorganisms. This can have a negative impact on the fragility of emergency patients attending intensive care units. This review examines published data on the use of antibiotics during the COVID pandemic and the risk of increasing antibiotic resistance that this may lead to. This is a problem that needs to be taken seriously so that the battle with COVID-19 does not lead to another threat to humanity.