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Covid -19, misinformation, and antimicrobial resistance

BMJ 2020; 371 doi: https://doi.org/10.1136/bmj.m4501 (Published 24 November 2020) Cite this as: BMJ 2020;371:m4501

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Re: Covid -19, misinformation, and antimicrobial resistance

Dear Editor,
I am always surprised by theconstant gaps between agreed commitments to act and poor resourcing to implement them. This refers also to act towards reducing the risks of AMR. It is of the most common of senses, I believe, to understand that health facilities cannot deliver safe services if they are not equipped with a functioning water supply, adequate toilets and minimal hygiene and cleaning services (WASH). Yet, as of today, 1 in 4 health facilities still lack these services. AMR is being boosted in such settings where antibiotics are used to treat hospital acquired infection as a kind of replacement for the lack of hygiene. The situation worsens, if as you observe, COVID-19 cases are ill- treated with antibiotics. "Fragile healthcare systems in many parts of the world may not withstand the covid-19 pandemic if also faced with a substantial increase in antimicrobial resistance." Providing proper WASH services is a key way out. Why is the obviously simple, so complicated? A case of disinformation too?

Competing interests: No competing interests

05 December 2020
Alexander von Hildebrand
WHO Consultant in Environmental health
Apartado 17, 7050999 Montemor O Novo Portugal
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