The new crown epidemic has been raging for nearly two and a half years. Restrictions on gatherings, masks, and frequent handwashing have become part of daily life. Hospitals, schools and residential care homes for the elderly have also introduced strict infection control measures. A new study led by Professor Yuan Guoyong found that relevant measures not only help fight the epidemic, but also reduce community-onset septicemia caused by enveloped bacteria such as Streptococcus pyogenes and Streptococcus pneumoniae, and the amount of antibiotics used by citizens has been significantly reduced .
According to the results of the study, which has been published in the medical journal Antibiotics.
The research team believes that during the peak season of the new coronavirus or influenza in winter, it is necessary to maintain infection prevention and control measures, and it is particularly important to wear masks for all people. It is believed that it will also help reduce the consumption of antibiotics, thereby reducing the prevalence of drug-resistant bacteria.
The study was jointly conducted by the Department of Microbiology of the University of Hong Kong, the School of Nursing, the Department of Health and the Hospital Authority, etc. It mainly analyzed the government's implementation of a series of non-drug interventions to prevent infection and control measures during the COVID-19 pandemic, such as extensive use of masks, hand Hygiene and social distancing measures, etc., took this unique opportunity to conduct a retrospective study to understand how infection prevention and control measures affect antibiotic use and the incidence of sepsis caused by common bacteria.
The researchers collected data on the wholesale and supply of antibiotics from the Centre for Health Protection over the past 10 years as a surrogate indicator of antibiotic consumption.
In addition, the reported cases of scarlet fever, chickenpox and tuberculosis in the past 10 years, as well as the inpatient blood inoculation data of the Hospital Authority, were also analyzed and collated.
Yuan Guoyong, chair professor of the Department of Microbiology of the University of Hong Kong, found that infection prevention and control measures such as wearing masks by all people can help reduce the use of antibiotics.
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Significant decrease in antibiotic consumption in private doctors and community pharmacies in 2020 and 2021
The results found that the wholesale and supply of antibiotics in 2020 and 2021 decreased significantly, among which the consumption of private doctors and community pharmacies decreased significantly.
Studies have shown a related decline in community-onset septicemia in the past two years caused by enveloped bacteria with respiratory potential, including Streptococcus pyogenes, Streptococcus pneumoniae, Haemophilus influenzae, and Neisseria meningitidis. rate decreased.
The study showed a significant reduction in the mean annual incidence of community-onset sepsis caused by enveloped bacteria (257 vs 58, p < 0.001).
Reported cases of scarlet fever and airborne infections such as chickenpox and tuberculosis also decreased over the same period.
No reduction in the incidence of bacteremia due to Staphylococcus aureus and Escherichia coli
However, the incidence of in-hospital bacteremia caused by two non-airborne bacteria, Staphylococcus aureus and Escherichia coli, did not decrease, indicating that it did not benefit from a series of infection control measures introduced as a result of the outbreak.
▼ Citizens are used to wearing masks in outdoor activities▼
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Respiratory pathogen infections may increase if infection control measures are relaxed
The research team believes that continued infection control measures targeting respiratory pathogens can reduce antibiotic consumption, thereby reducing the prevalence of drug-resistant bacteria.
The team predicts that if infection prevention and control measures are relaxed, the infection of respiratory pathogens may rebound accordingly. Therefore, it is suggested that during the peak period of the new coronavirus or influenza in winter, it is necessary to maintain infection prevention and control measures, and it is especially important for all people to wear masks.
Lan Kwai Fong Hotel is currently spreading vertically. Yuan Guoyong lifts the top of the pipe groove to force out the top-level spread of the virus. Said that there will be a sixth wave within 6 to 9 months to urge the residents of the hospital to get injections and isolate them quickly