National trends in Azithromycin consumption during 2017-2023 in Kazakhstan: impact of the COVID-19 pandemic and the imperative for enhanced clinical guidelines.

Antibiotic resistance (AMR) has reached critical levels globally, especially in developing economies like Kazakhstan, largely due to improper antibiotic use. The aim of this study was to examine seven years of azithromycin sales data in Kazakhstan to uncover consumption patterns during the COVID-19 pandemic and develop effective strategies to combat AMR. This study analyzes two data sets: one from a comprehensive review of documents regulating azithromycin use in Kazakhstan.