New research suggests that the COVID-19 probably led to 216.4 million excess doses of antibiotics for adults. The research points that antibiotics were used by almost everyone to treat mild and moderate cases of COVID-19 infection in India.

Led by researchers at the Barnes-Jewish Hospital in Missouri, US, the study noted that 16.29 billion doses of antibiotics were sold in India in 2020. Usage of adult dose was reported to rise from 72.6% in 2018 and 72.5% in 2019 to 76.8% in 2020. The sales of azithromycin for adults were found to increase from 4% in 2018 and 4.5% in 2019 to 5.9% last year in the country. The sales of doxycycline and faropenem were also found to increase, reported the study published in PLOS Medicine… (ET Healthworld – IANS, July 2, 2021)