Automedicación de antibióticos durante la pandemia por covid 19. Revisión sistemática

Abstract

Introduction: Self-medication with antibiotics refers to the consumption of these drugs on one’s own initiative without medical supervision, disregarding dosage and treatment duration, thereby becoming a global problem. Objective: To describe the characteristics of self-medication with antibiotics during the COVID-19 pandemic. Method: A descriptive, mixed-methods, and retrospective systematic review was conducted using databases (Scopus, PubMed, Taylor & Francis, and Web of Science). It includes scientific articles published in the last 5 years in Spanish and English. Results: The main reasons leading to self-medication were fear of COVID-19 infection, quarantine, and unrestricted access to antibiotics. Self-medication with antibiotics was high during the COVID-19 pandemic. Nonetheless, it was reported a decline in frequency during the study period compared to pre-pandemic levels. Conclusions: During the COVID-19 pandemic, macrolides, particularly azithromycin, were the most commonly used antibiotics, followed by penicillins, mainly amoxicillin, and quinolones, such as levofloxacin, ciprofloxacin, and moxifloxacin, with consumption rates exceeding 30%. Regarding the factors that drove self-medication, key contributors included the presence of infection-like symptoms, advice from family members, and exposure to advertising disseminated through social media and television. Keywords: self-medication, antibiotics, COVID-19, factors