Cited by 102Antibiotic Use and ResistanceAntibiotic Resistance in BacteriaPharmaceutical and Antibiotic Environmental Impacts

PRO: The COVID-19 pandemic will result in increased antimicrobial resistance rates

Open access
Clancy, Cornelius J, Buehrle, Deanna J, Nguyen, M Hong·2020·JAC-Antimicrobial Resistance

Abstract

We argue that the COVID-19 pandemic will result in increased antimicrobial resistance (AMR). Broad-spectrum antibiotic use is common among hospitalized COVID-19 patients and in excess of reported secondary infection rates, suggesting unnecessary prescribing. Selection pressure is likely to be particularly intense in COVID-19 epicentres and within non-epicentre hospital units dedicated to COVID-19 care. Risk factors that increase the likelihood of hospitalization or poor outcomes among COVID-19 patients, such as advanced age, nursing home residence, debilitation, diabetes and cardiopulmonary or other underlying systemic diseases, also predispose to AMR infections. Worry for AMR emergence is heightened since first-wave COVID-19 epicentres were also AMR epicentres. Disruptive direct and indirect effects of COVID-19 globally on economic systems, governance and public health expenditure and infrastructure may fuel AMR spread. We anticipate that the impact of COVID-19 on AMR will vary between epicentres and non-epicentres, by geographic region, hospital to hospital within regions and within specific hospital units.

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Crossref · 10.1093/jacamr/dlaa049

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  • Cross-resistance between disinfectants and antimicrobials has been reported for several disinfectants and is associated with a further increase in AMR during the pandemic period.

    “The phenomenon of cross-resistance between disinfectants and antimicrobials has been reported for several disinfectants and is associated with a further increase in AMR during the pandemic period [5, 10, 11].”

    From Profiling the resistome and virulome of Bacillus strains used for probiotic-based sanitation: a multicenter WGS analysis (2025) · cites this paper as [11]

    The Abstract and “Why might AMR arise?” argue that AMR may increase during the COVID-19 pandemic, particularly because of antibiotic selection pressure. Our copy does not report cross-resistance involving disinfectants or link disinfectant use to a further increase in AMR (searched: disinfectants, cross-resistance, biocides). (LLM, conf=0.82)

    Experimental — accuracy not yet measured
  • During the COVID-19 pandemic, when chemical disinfection increased, a significant increase in AMR was recorded.

    “Consistent with this, during the COVID-19 pandemic, when chemical disinfection was significantly increased in both sanitary and non-sanitary settings, a significant increase in AMR was recorded [5, 10, 11, 21].”

    From Profiling the resistome and virulome of Bacillus strains used for probiotic-based sanitation: a multicenter WGS analysis (2025) · cites this paper as [11]

    In “COVID-19 and AMR: what do we know?” (page unavailable), the paper recounts an anecdotal report of a slow increase in multidrug resistance at one New York health system, but also reports a decrease in Geneva and says neither account presented data. In “Why might AMR arise?” (page unavailable), it predicts that AMR may increase rather than documenting a significant increase. The cited passages do not link AMR to increased chemical disinfection. (LLM, conf=0.86)

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Research works printed but not linked: 1

  1. [4]O’Neill J. Review on antimicrobial resistance: tackling a crisis for the health and wealth of nations. 2014. https://amr-review.org/sites/default/files/AMR%20Review%20Paper%20-%20Tackling%20a%20crisis%20for%20the%20health%20and%20wealth%20of%20nations_1.pdf.

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Authors
Clancy, C. J., Buehrle, D. J., & Nguyen, M. H.
Affiliations
  • University of Pittsburgh (US)
  • VA Pittsburgh Healthcare System (US)
Corresponding author
Clancy, Cornelius J
Venue
JAC-Antimicrobial Resistance
Published
2020-07-17
Volume
2
Issue
3
Pages
dlaa049-dlaa049
ISSN
2632-1823 (ISSN-L)
OpenAlex
W3044722900
Cited by
102
References
17
Citations by year
2026: 3 · 2025: 9 · 2024: 9 · 2023: 18 · 2022: 27 · 2021: 31 · 2020: 5
FWCI
12.05
Type
journal article
Language
en
Open access
Locations
  • JAC-Antimicrobial Resistance (publishedVersion, cc-by)
  • PubMed Central (publishedVersion, cc-by)
  • PubMed (publishedVersion)
Topics
  • Life Sciences › Immunology and Microbiology › Applied Microbiology and Biotechnology › Antibiotic Use and Resistance
  • Life Sciences › Biochemistry, Genetics and Molecular Biology › Molecular Medicine › Antibiotic Resistance in Bacteria
  • Physical Sciences › Environmental Science › Pollution › Pharmaceutical and Antibiotic Environmental Impacts
Keywords
COVID-19 pandemic, antimicrobial resistance, broad-spectrum antibiotic use, secondary infection, selection pressure, nosocomial infections, antibiotic prescribing

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