|Videos|March 15, 2022

Second Opinion: Antimicrobial Resistance

Antimicrobial resistance (AMR) has been an ongoing major public health issue for some time. In 2019, antimicrobial resistance was the leading cause of death worldwide, surpassing even HIV and malaria in mortality according to a study published in the Lancet in January. When the COVID-19 pandemic emerged in 2020, many public health issues such as antimicrobial resistance took a back seat. In fact, antibiotic prescribing increased during this time as providers scrambled to care for patients. Now as COVID-19 cases continue to show a downward trend, antimicrobial resistance has become a significant priority again, and more of an emphasis is being placed on antibiotic prescribing practices. Anthony McDonnell and Dr. Javier Guzman discuss the findings of the study and the effects COVID-19 may have had in the prescribing practices.