Rise of drug-resistant bacteria linked to antibiotic use during pandemic

Inappropriately prescribed treatments allow resistant bacteria to grow, says UCI Health expert

IN THE NEWS: Infections from a dangerous, fast-spreading, drug resistant bacteria called NDM-CRE rose by more than 460%in the U.S. between 2019 and 2023, according to a recent CDC study. Its spread is alarming experts because it can cause infection or even death.

Dr. Susan Huang, an infectious disease physician and medical director of Epidemiology & Infection Prevention at UCI Health, spoke with the Washington Post about how the COVID-19 pandemic may have had a role.

“We saw an increase in antibiotic prescriptions during the first phase of the coronavirus pandemic, which may have contributed to NDM-CRE’s spread. Never had so many antibiotics been prescribed for a viral disease.”

She addressed how unnecessary antibiotic prescriptions cause harm.

“When antibiotics are given without a purpose, they merely kill off our usual gut bacteria and allow room for any resistant bacteria to propagate. This allows NDM to multiply and increases the risk that it will cause infection.”

Dr. Shruti Gohil, an infectious disease physician and associate medical director of Epidemiology & Infection Prevention at UCI Health, addressed the increased NDM-CRE bacterial infection rate and the lack of treatment options with the Los Angeles Times.

“Since the bacteria are resistant to most antibiotics, treatment options are severely limited, leading to slower recovery and higher risk of serious complications or death.”

Gohil also spoke about who is most at risk for infection.

“Those at risk include people who were recently in the hospital (especially in another country), had repeated antibiotics, hospital stays, or invasive medical procedures. You are also at risk if you’re sick and have been in contact with someone known to have NDM-CRE.”

Because these infections can occur in those who very sick, in the hospital or in long-term care, it’s important that patients, visitors and healthcare staff regularly wash their hands and avoid contact with dirty surfaces.

Huang is among the nation’s leading clinicians and researchers in the field of infection prevention and combating multidrug-resistant organisms. She is responsible for developing infection prevention protocols to protect patients that have been implemented nationwide. Earlier this year, she earned the Lifetime Achievement Award for her transformative infection prevention research and leadership at the Greater Irvine Chamber Excellence in Healthcare & Innovation Awards.

Huang’s clinical interests include antimicrobial resistance, multidrug-resistant organisms, decolonization and healthcare epidemiology. She is the Chancellor's Professor in the Division of Infectious Diseases at the UC Irvine School of Medicine.

Gohil, an assistant professor in the Division of Infectious Diseases at the UC Irvine School of Medicine, led the UCI Health response to the novel coronavirus pandemic, including the clinical and epidemiologic assessment of healthcare providers and patients, COVID-19 testing and vaccination, exposure definition and response, contact tracing, vaccination and infection prevention strategies to limit viral spread.

She currently leads several national studies to assess patient risk for multidrug-resistant bacterial infections and to prompt physicians to limit the use of extended-spectrum antibacterial drugs in real time. These include the INSPIRE Demonstration Project.