On Mar. 24. 2023, antibiotics do not reduce the risk of dying in adults hospitalized with COVID-19, the flu, or respiratory syncytial virus, suggests a new study. Respiratory infections account for around 10% of worldwide disease burden and are the most common reason for prescribing antibiotics. Many infections are viral and do not require or respond to antibiotics, but during COVID-19, concerns around bacterial co-infection in COVID-19 led to wider use of antibiotics.

Norwegian researchers retrospectively assessed the impact of antibiotic therapy on mortality in 2111 adults admitted to Akershus University Hospital with a nasopharyngeal or throat swab at hospital admittance that was positive for influenza virus, respiratory syncytial virus, or SARS-CoV-2 between 2017 and 2021.