Inadequate use of antibiotics in the covid-19 era: effectiveness of antibiotic therapy

Background Since December 2019, the COVID-19 pandemic has changed the concept of medicine. This work aims to analyze the use of antibiotics in patients admitted to the hospital due to SARS-CoV-2 infection. Methods This work analyzes the use and effectiveness of antibiotics in hospitalized patients w...

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Detalles Bibliográficos
Autores: Bendala Estrada AD, Calderón Parra J, Fernández Carracedo E, Muiño Míguez A, Ramos Martínez A, Muñez Rubio E, Rubio-Rivas M, Agudo P, Arnalich Fernández F, Estrada Perez V, Taboada Martínez ML, Crestelo Vieitez A, Pesqueira Fontan PM, Bustamante M, Freire SJ, Oriol-Bermúdez I, Artero A, Olalla Sierra J, Areses Manrique M, Carrasco-Sánchez HFJ, Vento VC, García García GM, Cubero-Morais P, Casas-Rojo JM, Núñez-Cortés JM
Tipo de recurso: artículo
Estado:Versión publicada
Fecha de publicación:2021
País:España
Institución:Fundación para el Fomento de la Investigación Sanitaria y Biomédica de la Comunitat Valenciana (FISABIO)
Repositorio:r-FISABIO. Repositorio Institucional de Producción Científica
OAI Identifier:oai:fisabio.fundanetsuite.com:p11944
Acceso en línea:https://fisabio.portalinvestigacion.com/publicaciones/11944
Access Level:acceso abierto
Palabra clave:COVID-19
SARS-CoV-2
Antibiotics
Survival
Macrolides
Azithromycin
Descripción
Sumario:Background Since December 2019, the COVID-19 pandemic has changed the concept of medicine. This work aims to analyze the use of antibiotics in patients admitted to the hospital due to SARS-CoV-2 infection. Methods This work analyzes the use and effectiveness of antibiotics in hospitalized patients with COVID-19 based on data from the SEMI-COVID-19 registry, an initiative to generate knowledge about this disease using data from electronic medical records. Our primary endpoint was all-cause in-hospital mortality according to antibiotic use. The secondary endpoint was the effect of macrolides on mortality. Results Of 13,932 patients, antibiotics were used in 12,238. The overall death rate was 20.7% and higher among those taking antibiotics (87.8%). Higher mortality was observed with use of all antibiotics (OR 1.40, 95% CI 1.21-1.62; p < .001) except macrolides, which had a higher survival rate (OR 0.70, 95% CI 0.64-0.76; p < .001). The decision to start antibiotics was influenced by presence of increased inflammatory markers and any kind of infiltrate on an x-ray. Patients receiving antibiotics required respiratory support and were transferred to intensive care units more often. Conclusions Bacterial co-infection was uncommon among COVID-19 patients, yet use of antibiotics was high. There is insufficient evidence to support widespread use of empiric antibiotics in these patients. Most may not require empiric treatment and if they do, there is promising evidence regarding azithromycin as a potential COVID-19 treatment.