New data from the United Nations health agency shows that about 75% of hospitalized patients were treated with antibiotics "as a precaution", even though only 8% of them had bacterial co-infections and needed the drugs, a WHO statement said. Antibiotic use "ranged from 33% for patients in the Western Pacific region to 83% in the Eastern Mediterranean and African regions," it said, adding that between 2020 and 2022, prescriptions "decreased in Europe and the Americas, while they increased in Africa". According to the study, the highest rate of antibiotic use was recorded among those with severe or critical illness (a global average of 81%), while for mild or moderate cases, there were "substantial differences" between regions, with Africa having the highest use (79%). WHO classifies antibiotics into three groups, according to their risk of AMR and in line with the AWaRe (Access, Watch, Reserve) list. The study found that those in the second group, "with higher resistance potential, were the most frequently prescribed globally", which is a concern for the organization. "When a patient needs antibiotics, the benefits often outweigh the risks associated with side-effects or antibiotic resistance. However, when they are not needed, these medicines provide no benefit and still carry risks, contributing to the emergence and spread of antimicrobial resistance," said Silvia Bertagnolio, lead for Surveillance in WHO's AMR department, quoted in the statement. "These data highlight the need for improvements in antibiotic use to minimize unnecessary negative consequences for patients and populations," she added. This work will feed into a living systematic review and synthesis of evidence, which will inform future WHO recommendations on the use of antibiotics in patients with covid-19, as part of the clinical management guidelines for the disease. The data analyzed in the study come from WHO's Global Clinical Platform for COVID-19, representing close to 450,000 patients hospitalized with the disease in 65 countries over a three-year period (January 2020 to March 2023). The findings will be presented at the European Society of Clinical Microbiology and Infectious Diseases (ESCMID) Congress, which starts on Saturday and runs until April 30 in Barcelona, Spain. Read Also: Dogs and cats may transmit antibiotic-resistant "superbugs" (Portuguese version)