How Pharmacists in North Cyprus Saw Antibiotic Use During COVID-19

The COVID-19 pandemic shook up how we treat infections, especially with antibiotics. In North Cyprus, community pharmacists have been on the front lines, witnessing changes in how people use these drugs. This study dived into what these pharmacists know, think, and see about antibiotic use during and after the pandemic. It offered insights into how infection patterns might have shifted due to changes in antibiotic use. During the pandemic, people panicked and often overused antibiotics, thinking they could fight COVID-19. Pharmacists saw this firsthand and had to remind folks that antibiotics don't work on viruses. They also noted that some people stopped taking their regular antibiotic treatments for fear of catching COVID-19, which could have led to worse health issues.The study highlighted that pharmacists' insights are vital in understanding antibiotic misuse. It suggested that better education and guidelines are needed to prevent overuse and underuse of these crucial medications. The pandemic, while challenging, also presented an opportunity to improve how we handle antibiotics to combat resistance. In conversations with pharmacists, it became clear that while awareness about antibiotic resistance has grown, there's still a lot of misinformation out there. Some people believe they should take antibiotics at the first sign of a cold, not understanding that most colds are viral and antibiotics won't help.