Superbugs were already on the rise. The pandemic likely made things worse.
A virus causes COVID-19, but many doctors still prescribe antibiotics to those who don't need them.
misuse and overuse of antibiotics during the pandemic could exacerbate another ongoing crisis: antibiotic resistance, where pathogens like bacteria and fungi evolve to evade powerful drugs designed to destroy them.
overuse of antibiotics during the COVID-19 pandemic may be making the problem worse. In the early months of the pandemic
in many parts of the world, physicians continued to prescribe antibiotics to COVID-19 patients who may not have needed them. When patients weren’t able to consult doctors, they’ve resorted to self-medicating with antibiotics, sometimes even as a preventive measure. The cost and lack of access to diagnostic tests that confirm bacterial infection and hence the need for antibiotics, a just-in-case-you-need-it attitude, and sometimes not being aware of the latest science may have led to the overuse and misuse of antibiotics over the course of the pandemic.
Source
https://www.nationalgeographic.com/...he-rise-the-pandemic-likely-made-things-worse
