Evidence map›Paper›PMID 40922939›Full record

ReviewInfection prevention in practice2025

COVID-19 vaccination and use of antibiotics in COVID-19 patients: a systematic review and meta-analysis.

Marios Politis, Ioanna Chatzichristodoulou, Varvara A Mouchtouri, Georgios Rachiotis

Abstract readReview
In one paragraph

Review in Infection prevention in practice, 2025. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 2 papers.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
2citing papers in PubMed
–field-weighted citation impact
1 · What the graph read from it

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.

2 · The registry

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.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

2 citing papers in PubMed.

  1. Article
  2. Article
4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

4 authors.

Marios PolitisDepartment of Global Public Health, Karolinska Institute, Stockholm, Sweden.
Ioanna ChatzichristodoulouDepartment of Hygiene and Epidemiology, School of Medicine, University of Thessaly, Larisa, Greece.
Varvara A MouchtouriDepartment of Hygiene and Epidemiology, School of Medicine, University of Thessaly, Larisa, Greece.
Georgios RachiotisDepartment of Hygiene and Epidemiology, School of Medicine, University of Thessaly, Larisa, Greece.

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

Background: Vaccinations are considered one of the most effective medical interventions. Among other benefits, certain vaccinations help reduce antimicrobial resistance by decreasing antibiotic use. Considering reports of increased antimicrobial resistance during the COVID-19 pandemic, this study aimed to explore the relationship between COVID-19 vaccination status and antibiotic use in COVID-19 patients. Methods: A systematic literature search was conducted in PubMed, Scopus, Web of Science, Embase, and Google Scholar between January 1, 2021, and November 6, 2024. The included studies were assessed for risk of bias using the Newcastle-Ottawa tool. Narrative synthesis and random-effects meta-analysis were employed to synthesize the evidence. Results: Eight studies were included in this systematic review and meta-analysis (134,022 participants). COVID-19 vaccination was significantly associated with a 34% reduction in the odds of antibiotic use (OR: 0.662; 95% CI: 0.540-0.811) in COVID-19 patients. These findings were supported by the sensitivity analyses. In the subgroup analysis, a significant negative association was observed between COVID-19 vaccination and antibiotic use among COVID-19 patients across all study designs. A major limitation of this study is that most of the included studies did not adjust for confounders. Conclusions: COVID-19 vaccination was associated with a significant reduction in antibiotic use among COVID-19 patients. COVID-19 vaccination status may have influenced healthcare providers' decisions regarding antibiotic use in this group. Further large-scale cohort studies are needed to confirm these findings. Other: The study protocol is registered with PROSPERO (ID: CRD42023449625). No funding was provided for this study. The APCs were covered by the Karolinska Institute.

Indexed as

AntibioticsAntimicrobial resistanceCOVID-19 vaccine

Identifiers

PMID40922939
PMCPMC12414285

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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 OpenQuestion graph.