WHO Guides Against Broad Antibiotic Use in COVID-19 Cases

New Delhi, Aug 7 (PTI) – The World Health Organisation (WHO) has released new guidelines recommending against the use of antibiotics in severe COVID-19 cases unless a bacterial infection is suspected. This updated advice stems from recent meta-analysis evidence regarding patient outcomes when treated with antibiotics for COVID-19. According to WHO, patients with non-severe COVID-19 and minimal suspicion of bacterial co-infection should not receive empirical antibiotic treatment. Similarly, for those with severe COVID-19 but low suspicion of bacterial infection, empirical antibiotic use is discouraged. As COVID-19's epidemiology and severity have evolved over time, so too have the WHO's recommendations. The context in which these guidelines are applied in 2024 significantly differs from the initial pandemic stages in 2020. With declining infection rates and disease severity, alongside the easing of emergency measures, the care of COVID-19 patients has integrated with regular healthcare systems. This transition prompted a comprehensive review of all prior guidance, stripping away general medical principles and advice irrelevant to the current COVID-19 management. The updated stance on antibiotics is driven by new data from a systematic review and meta-analysis, alongside the urgent need to combat antimicrobial resistance. Aimed at healthcare professionals—including clinicians, allied health workers, and hospital administrators—these guidelines target those involved in managing COVID-19 and post-COVID-19 conditions. While the SARS-CoV-2 virus continues to cause preventable health impacts globally, the introduction of vaccines and treatments, coupled with increased population immunity, has drastically reduced hospitalization, disease severity, and mortality. However, as the virus continues to mutate with varying infectivity and severity, these guidelines serve as an adaptive and transparent response addressing ongoing changes and treatment strategies.

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