How COVID-19 Has Influenced Public Interest in Antimicrobials, Antimicrobial Resistance and Related Preventive Measures: A Google Trends Analysis of Italian Data

Abstract

Google Trends analytics is an innovative way to evaluate public interest in antimicrobial resistance (AMR) and related preventive measures. In the present study, we analyzed Google Trends data in Italy, from 2016 to 2021. A joinpoint analysis was performed to assess whether and how annual campaigns and the COVID-19 pandemic affected public interest in antimicrobials, AMR, hand hygiene, and the use of disinfectant. For the terms “antimicrobials” and “antimicrobial resistance”, no joinpoints were detected around the time of the World Antimicrobial Awareness Week. Similarly, the COVID-19 pandemic seems to have had no effect on public interest in this term. For the term “handwashing”, no joinpoints were detected around World Hand Hygiene Day or Global Handwashing Day. However, three joinpoints were detected around the peak of interest observed in March 2020, after the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic. Comparable results were obtained for the term “disinfectant”. These findings show that the influence of annual campaigns on public interest in AMR and preventive measures was modest and not long-term. The COVID-19 pandemic, meanwhile, had no effect on AMR but raised awareness on preventive measures. However, this was a temporary rather than long-term outcome. Thus, different policies, strategies, and measures should be designed to advocate prevention of AMR in the COVID-19 era.

How Antimicrobial Resistance Is Linked to Climate Change: An Overview of Two Intertwined Global Challenges

“…Many diseases are climate-sensitive, and the above-mentioned changes may lead to an increase in the spread of many bacterial and vector-borne diseases in humans, animals and plants [2]. In addition, the high occurrence of diseases described earlier could further increase the improper use of antimicrobials [22][23][24][25][26][27][28][29][30]. In order to reduce the burden of infectious diseases and AMR, therefore, the contemporary protection of humans, animals and the environment is necessary, in a perspective defined by the so-called One Health approach [31].…”