Three Minutes Thesis: Factors Affecting Antibiotics Use Before and During the COVID-19 Pandemic.

Abstract

This three-minute thesis (3MT) delves into the factors influencing antibiotic use before and during the COVID-19 pandemic. Pre-pandemic factors like clinician prescribing habits and patient demand drove antibiotic overuse. However, the pandemic introduced new complexities, including increased vigilance in antibiotic prescribing for COVID-19 patients and disruptions in healthcare delivery. Behavioural and patient factors, such as fear of complications and mistrust in healthcare systems, also played a role. Understanding these multifaceted influences is crucial for developing targeted interventions to optimize antibiotic prescribing practices and combat antimicrobial resistance in the COVID-19 era.