Introduction: Inappropriate use of antibiotics has resulted in a dramatic increase of antimicrobial resistance in developing countries. We examined knowledge, attitudes, and practices of antibiotic use in three Asian countries. Methodology: A nationwide cross-sectional study of teachers in large cities of Yemen, Saudi Arabia, and Uzbekistan was conducted. A random sample of 1,200 teachers was selected in each country. Data were collected through a questionnaire-based survey and then analyzed using descriptive and multivariate statistical methods. Results: The prevalence of non-prescription antibiotic use ranged from 48% in Saudi Arabia to 78% in Yemen and Uzbekistan. Pharmacies were the main source of non-prescribed antibiotics. The most common reasons for antibiotic use were cough (40%) and influenza (34%). Forty-nine percent of respondents discontinued antibiotics when they felt better. Although awareness of the dangers of antibiotic use correlated inversely with self-medication, understanding of the appropriate use of antibiotics was limited. Conclusions: The prevalence of antibiotic self-medication in the educated adult population in the studied countries was found to be alarmingly high. Effective strategies involving regulatory enforcement prohibiting sales of antibiotics without prescription should be implemented along with educational interventions for health professionals and the public.

The global outbreak of the new coronavirus infection COVID-19 is still ongoing, leading to coinfections such as malaria and COVID-19 and others. As evidenced by the increase in various reports of coinfections. In recent years, Uzbekistan has achieved epidemiological stability for malaria and in 2018 received an official World Health Organization certificate confirming the country’s “malaria-free” status. At the present stage during the COVID-19 pandemic, imported malaria from abroad is relevant for our republic and, therefore, there is a constant danger of renewed transmission from imported cases. In this article presented the clinical case of coinfection of COVID-19 and malaria in a patient. From the epidemiological data, the patient was a citizen of Cameroon. During treatment of coronavirus infection, the patient noted intermittent chills all over the body and sweating, clinical symptoms of tropical malaria began to appear. Microscopy of a thick drop and a thin blood smear confirmed the presence of Pl. falciparum. The patient was prescribed antimalarial therapy with mefloquine, resulting in clinical recovery.