Antibiotic prescribing for respiratory infections decreased sharply during the COVID-19 pandemic, but this was not just because of lockdowns and other tough restrictions, Australian researchers say.

Culture shifts, such as mask-wearing and more handwashing, may have had an impact and, if maintained, could be important for antibiotic stewardship, they say. 

Lower antibiotic prescribing was found across the board, not just in areas hard hit by COVID-19, where people might have been more likely to avoid primary care clinics, found the researchers, from Monash Health and Monash University in Melbourne.

“The finding that significant reductions existed in states without high case numbers or lockdowns is promising and suggests that we may be able to maintain at least some of these decreases after the pandemic by encouraging these same culture shifts,” lead author Dr Jack Skeggs said.