Antibiotic Misuse during the COVID-19 Pandemic in Lebanon: A Cross-Sectional Study

Background: Over the past 100 years, the discovery of antibiotics is regarded as one of the most significant advances in medical research and has saved millions of lives. However, the emergence of antimicrobial-resistant bacteria has significantly reduced the efficacy of antibiotics against infectious disorders. Antimicrobial resistance is mostly caused by antibiotic misuse for conditions that may be treated with self-care. During the COVID-19 pandemic, antibiotic use has been out of control among the general population. Aim: The objective of this study is to investigate the prevalence of antibiotic misuse during the COVID-19 pandemic in Lebanon. Methods: In January 2024, a descriptive cross-sectional study was conducted amongst students registered at the Islamic University of Lebanon. Individuals who have been infected with COVID-19 at least once were eligible for the study and were selected by a non-random snowball sampling technique. Descriptive and quantitative analyses were performed using SPSS 21. Results: Out of the 478 participants who completed the questionnaire, 40.2% (n = 192) received antibiotics during the COVID-19 infection. A physician's prescription is mentioned by some participants (51%, n = 98), followed by a pharmacist's (23.4%, n = 45), self-taken (14.5%, n = 28), and others as family or friends (10.9%, n = 21). Moreover, 59.3% (n = 114) of the respondents respected the antibiotic therapy's rules, and 40.6% (n = 78) discontinued taking the antibiotic when they felt better. Conclusion: Our results showed that participants were likely to show unsatisfactory compliance and to use non-prescribed antibiotics. Campaigns are urgently needed to promote appropriate antibiotic use.