Consumption of Antibiotics During Covid-19 Pandemic in LUHS Hospital of Kaunas In 2020–2022

Abstract

Background and Objectives A pandemic of the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) has been declared in Lithuania and the world in 2020 (1). The misuse of antibiotics has intensified during the COVID-19 pandemic, leading to continued irrational use of antibiotics (2). The irrational prescribing and use of antibiotics is a universally recognized threat to health systems worldwide (3). The main objective of this study was to compare the consumption of antimicrobial J01 systemic drugs in different divisions of Lithuanian University of Health Sciences (LUHS) Hospital of Kaunas in 2020 – 2022. [...]. Conclusions and Recommendations The consumption of antibiotics, either in general or assigned to Reserve fund, was greater in Division B than in A in all study period. The yearly dynamics of consumption of antibiotics may have been influenced by the high number of complications caused by the COVID –19 disease and other seasonal viruses. The yearly decrease of consumption of antibiotics assigned to Reserve fund in both divisions might have been influenced by the implementation of Antimicrobial Reserve Fund management and the position of a physician clinical pharmacologist who had a positive impact on more rational prescription of antibiotics.