Overview

• The new recommendations advise against empirical antibiotics for non-severe and severe COVID-19 patients without clinical signs of bacterial co-infection.
• Guideline changes are grounded in a systematic review and meta-analysis indicating minimal benefit of antibiotics when bacterial infection is not suspected.
• Updates reflect reduced infection rates, milder disease severity and the end of emergency COVID-19 measures since the original 2020 guidance.
• A primary goal of the revision is to address the growing global threat of antimicrobial resistance fueled by unnecessary prescriptions.
• These recommendations are directed at clinicians, allied health workers, facility managers and hospital administrators involved in COVID-19 patient care.