Exploring Prior Antibiotic Exposure Characteristics for COVID-19 Hospital Admission Patients: OpenSAFELY

Journal article

Previous studies have demonstrated the association between antibiotic use and severe COVID-19 outcomes. This study aimed to explore detailed antibiotic exposure characteristics among COVID-19 patients. Using the OpenSAFELY platform, which integrates extensive health data and covers 40% of the population in England, the study analysed 3.16 million COVID-19 patients with at least two prior antibiotic prescriptions. These patients were compared to up to six matched controls without hospitalisation records. A machine learning model categorised patients into ten groups based on their antibiotic exposure history over the three years before their COVID-19 diagnosis. The study found that for COVID-19 patients, the total number of prior antibiotic prescriptions, diversity of antibiotic types, broad-spectrum antibiotic prescriptions, time between first and last antibiotics, and recent antibiotic use were associated with an increased risk of severe COVID-19 outcomes. Patients in the highest decile of antibiotic exposure had an adjusted odds ratio of 4.8 for severe outcomes compared to those in the lowest decile. These findings suggest a potential link between extensive antibiotic use and the risk of severe COVID-19. This highlights the need for more judicious antibiotic prescribing in primary care, primarily for patients with higher risks of infection-related complications, which may better offset the potential adverse effects of repeated antibiotic use.

Authors: Yang, Y; Wong, D; Zhong, X; Fahmi, A; Ashcroft, DM

• Publication status: Published
• Peer review status: Peer reviewed
• Publisher: MDPI
• Journal: Antibiotics
• Volume: 13
• Issue: 6
• Article number: 566
• Publication date: 2024-06-18
• Acceptance date: 2024-06-11
• DOI: 10.3390/antibiotics13060566
• EISSN: 2079-6382
• ISSN: 2079-6382
• Language: English
• Keywords: COVID-19; antibiotics; primary care