ReviewInternational journal of microbiology2026
From Widespread Use to Loss of Effectiveness: The Consequences of Inappropriate Azithromycin Prescriptions During the COVID-19 Pandemic-A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis.
Review in International journal of microbiology, 2026. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 2 papers.
What it found
Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.
The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.
The trial behind it
Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.
Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.
Who cites it
2 citing papers in PubMed.
- Oral antibiotics prescribing patterns and associated diarrhea risk: Public health implications.Journal of public health research · 2026Article
- From Widespread Use to Loss of Effectiveness: The Consequences of Inappropriate Azithromycin Prescriptions During the COVID-19 Pandemic-A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis.International journal of microbiology · 2026Review
Corrections and comments
PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.
Authors and funding
5 authors.
Funding
No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.
Abstract
Objectives: We are aimed at evaluating whether the widespread use of azithromycin during the COVID-19 pandemic led to a significant increase in bacterial resistance compared with the prepandemic period and estimating the magnitude of this effect through a systematic review and meta-analysis. Methods: This systematic review followed the PRISMA 2020 guidelines and Cochrane Handbook (Page,2021). Observational studies published between 2015 and 2025 reporting azithromycin resistance before and after the COVID-19 pandemic were identified. Odds ratios (ORs) were pooled using a random-effects model. Methodological quality was assessed using the Newcastle-Ottawa scale. Results: Eight studies met the eligibility criteria and were included in the quantitative synthesis. The meta-analysis demonstrated a significant increase in azithromycin resistance in the postpandemic period, with a pooled OR of 2.71 (95% CI: 2.04-3.59). Substantial heterogeneity was observed ( Conclusions: The findings provide robust evidence that the excessive and largely empirical use of azithromycin during the COVID-19 pandemic contributed to a global rise in bacterial resistance. Strengthening antimicrobial stewardship policies is essential to preserve the clinical effectiveness of macrolides during future public health emergencies.
Indexed as
Identifiers
What Socratic holds
Registered trials
Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the Socratic graph.