Early on in the pandemic, antibiotics were frequently prescribed for coronavirus patients. | stock photo
Early on in the pandemic, antibiotics were frequently prescribed for coronavirus patients. | stock photo
A recent study published in the journal "Clinical Infectious Diseases" looked at the administration of antibiotics to suspected COVID-19 patients admitted to 38 Michigan hospitals between March and June, and determined that, although confirmed community-onset bacterial co-infections were low, approximately half of the patients received antibiotics.
The study took into account 1,705 patients admitted throughout some of the heaviest periods of COVID-19 infections and hospitalizations in the state, noting that the variance in antibiotic treatment that was initiated out of concern over bacterial co-infection was as high as 27% to 84% of patients among different hospitals.
The study also found that hospitals were more likely to resort to preemptive use of antibiotics with older patients. Additional factors that correlated highly with early application of antibiotics in anticipation of co-infection were those who had a lower body mass index and those with more severe symptoms.
The study also found that for-profit hospitals were more likely to prescribe early use of antibiotics.
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