Survey finds widespread broad-spectrum antibiotic use in COVID patientsA web-based survey of physicians in 23 countries indicates widespread broad-spectrum antibiotic use in COVID-19 patients, an international team of researchers reported today in the Journal of Antimicrobial Chemotherapy.The 16-question survey, which was completed by 166 physicians at 82 hospitals, asked respondents about what influenced their decision to provide antibiotic treatment to COVID-19 patients, the local antibiotic guidelines in relation to COVID-19, the antibiotics most commonly chosen for empiric treatment, and duration of therapy.
The questions on the decision for antibiotic therapy used a 5-point grading scale (1 = least important and 5 = most important),