"COVID Pandemic Fuels Rise of Superbugs"

The overuse of antibiotics during the COVID-19 pandemic has led to a rise in drug-resistant superbugs, with 75% of hospitalized COVID patients globally receiving antibiotics despite only 8% having bacterial coinfections. This misuse has reversed progress in combating antibiotic resistance, resulting in increased infections and deaths from resistant pathogens. The issue is particularly severe in low- and middle-income countries due to limited access to diagnostics and vaccines. The United Nations will address this growing health crisis in an upcoming high-level meeting.