Researchers at the University of Oslo in Norway said that most hospitalized patients due to acute viral infection are usually given doses of antibiotics, in anticipation that there is a bacterial infection associated with viral infection. But the Norwegian study says this common practice may not improve these patients' chances of survival. Study team leader Dr. Maggret Jarlsdatter indicated that her team researched the effect of antibiotics in saving more than 2,100 patients in a hospital in Norway, during the period 2017-2021. The team concluded that giving antibiotics to patients with respiratory infections would not likely reduce the risk of death within 30 days of starting treatment. About 70% of people with COVID-19 were prescribed antibiotics in some countries. This may have led, albeit unintentionally, to the emergence of antibiotic-resistant microbes, which are called "super microbes". The Norwegian study indicates that the world is witnessing an excessive use of antibiotics, which helped microbes to become resistant to antibiotics. It is a development that scientists see as one of the greatest threats to global public health. The volunteers were selected for the study after examining a nasal or throat swab, as a result of which it was confirmed that they had a viral infection, either with influenza, respiratory syncytial infection, or Covid-19. And 63% of them were given antibiotics to treat respiratory infection while they were in hospital. Within 30 days of the start of the study, 168 patients died, 22 of whom were not prescribed antibiotics. After taking into consideration the important factors, such as gender, age, and medical history; The researchers concluded that patients who were prescribed antibiotics while they were hospitalized were twice as likely to die within 30 days, compared to patients who were not prescribed antibiotics.
Okaz (London, Washington) @OKAZ_online
