Bacterial co-infections in COVID-19 pneumonia in a tertiary care hospital: Surfing the first wave

Diagn Microbiol Infect Dis. 2021 Nov;101(3):115477. doi: 10.1016/j.diagmicrobio.2021.115477. Epub 2021 Jul 3.

Abstract

The aim of this study is to review bacterial isolates from respiratory samples of patients with severe COVID-19 disease during the first 2 months of the first wave in our hospital. A single-center retrospective observational study in critically ill adult patients was performed. A total of 1251 respiratory samples from 1195 patients were processed. Samples from 66 patients (5.52%) were determined to be microbiologically significant by a semi-quantitative culture. All patients received broad spectrum antibiotherapy as an empirical treatment. The isolated bacteria were mainly Enterobacterales followed by Staphylococcus aureus and Pseudomonas aeruginosa. Bacterial co-infections in ICU stay could seem not dependent on the virus that has produced the viral pneumonia similarly as with other respiratory viruses such as Influenza virus.

Keywords: COVID-19; Co-infection; Pneumonia; Respiratory samples.

Publication types

  • Observational Study

MeSH terms

  • Aged
  • Aged, 80 and over
  • Anti-Bacterial Agents / therapeutic use
  • COVID-19 / complications*
  • Coinfection / diagnosis*
  • Cross Infection / drug therapy
  • Cross Infection / microbiology
  • Female
  • Humans
  • Intensive Care Units
  • Male
  • Middle Aged
  • Pneumonia, Bacterial / complications*
  • Retrospective Studies
  • Risk Factors
  • SARS-CoV-2
  • Tertiary Care Centers*

Substances

  • Anti-Bacterial Agents