The Effect of COVID-19 On Antibiotic Resistance

Over three years have passed since the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic. During these times we have experienced significant changes in all areas of our life. In healthcare, more attention was focused on COVID-19 than other concerns. An unexpected consequence of the pandemic was a silent progression of an increased spread of multi-resistant pathogens. While antibiotic use during the pandemic varied across healthcare settings, antibiotics were prescribed for COVID-19 patients, even though antibiotics are known not to be effective against viruses.1 In dentistry, antibiotics were prescribed to prevent potential dental infections, since many dental offices were not open. Antimicrobial resistance was one of our greatest public health concerns prior to the COVID-19 pandemic, and it remains so