A crucial role for Antimicrobial stewardship even in the midst of COVID-19

Abstract

As the world deals with a pandemic, there remains another global challenge that cannot be ignored. Antimicrobial resistance continues to plague the world and during a pandemic it presents novel challenges. Antimicrobial resistance can be controlled to bring about decreased morbidity, mortality and health care costs, but it requires antimicrobial stewardship. Major components of effective and timely antimicrobial stewardship are diagnostic stewardship, and infection prevention and control, all of which need to be integrated into current strategies of COVID-19 mitigation and management. Heading into Fall 2020, worldwide implementation of antimicrobial stewardship education efforts can help us contend with influenza in addition to COVID-19 and any bacterial co-infections or secondary infections. Additional solutions include development of vaccines, alternative therapies such as antibodies, and advanced diagnostics using advances in genomics and computer science.