About this Research Topic

Background

Antimicrobial resistance (AMR) is a growing public health challenge worldwide that has been identified as one of the top 10 threats to global health by World Health Organization (WHO). It has been estimated that by 2050, nearly 10 million deaths per year and an overall GDP loss of 100 trillion could be attributable to drug resistant infections if appropriate measures are not instituted. The ongoing COVID-19 pandemic has occurred amidst the backdrop of the growing public health crisis of AMR.

As of now, more than 225 million COVID-19 cases have been reported across the globe along with more than 4.5 million deaths as devastating waves of COVID-19 infections continue to wreak havoc across the globe. Several studies have shown that antimicrobial use in the ongoing pandemic have far exceeded the indications based on reported incidence of bacterial coinfections and secondary infections in affected patients, suggesting irrational and excessive antibiotic prescribing. A pertinent risk involves de-prioritization of existing pre-pandemic antimicrobial resistance surveillance and stewardship activities with diversion of often limited health system resources to emergency response measures. At the same time, disruption of routine healthcare services for non-COVID patients and in community settings could potentially diminish the overall use of antimicrobial agents.

The goal of this Research Topic is to gather evidence on the wider implications of COVID-19 pandemic on health and social care systems in terms of antibiotic prescribing and resistance, with special focus on impact on AMS programs. It is believed that such data is critical to inform and update local as well as national priorities and strategies aimed to address the growing challenge of antimicrobial resistance that faces a significant risk of exacerbation during these extraordinary times. In addition, this evidence will help in devising best practices and planning and executing appropriate research endeavors. This Research Topic encourages submissions that examine antimicrobial resistance surveillance, containment, and control, as well as articles that introduce novel methods to address the latter in the context of COVID-19 pandemic. We also encourage analysis of challenges for implementation of AMS interventions, perceived and actual barriers, and lessons to be learned for clinicians, various other stakeholders, and policy makers.

This Research Topic encourages the collection of original research articles, brief research reports, systematic reviews, and innovative methods in the field of antimicrobial resistance and stewardship during COVID-19 pandemic.

Topics of special interest include, but are not limited to:

• Quantitative and qualitative research on utilization of antimicrobials in both the hospital and/or community settings during the COVID-19 pandemic

• Disruption of AMR surveillance during COVID-19

• Feasibility of AMS interventions in hospitals as well as communities.

• Novel or modification of AMS interventions to address the growing challenge of irrational and over prescription of antimicrobials.

• Impact on AMR/AMS research activities during COVID-19

• Special issues faced by healthcare settings in lower and middle income and resource constrained settings.

Keywords: Antimicrobial resistance, Antimicrobial stewardship, Antimicrobial resistance surveillance, COVID-19, SARS-CoV-2, Secondary infections, Coinfections

Important note: All contributions to this Research Topic must be within the scope of the section and journal to which they are submitted, as defined in their mission statements. Frontiers reserves the right to guide an out-of-scope manuscript to a more suitable section or journal at any stage of peer review.

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