Community pharmacists’ role as antibiotic stewards in the fight against coronavirus disease 2019

Antibiotic misuse and overuse are key drivers of antimicrobial resistance. One common practice that leads to antibiotic misuse is self-medication. Antibiotics have been misused for viral respiratory tract conditions such as cold and flu. The misuse of antibiotics could extend to mild infections of coronavirus disease (COVID-19), further driving up antimicrobial resistance. COVID-19 emerged a global health problem that originated from Wuhan City in Hubei province of China. Community pharmacists, due to their constant and direct contact with patients, can implement several measures that can drive down the misuse of antibiotics during the COVID-19 pandemic. This article highlights the roles of community pharmacists as antimicrobial stewards that should not be neglected during and after the pandemic.