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Published on: June 15, 2019
Bacterial infections in critically ill patients with SARS-2-COVID-19 infection: results of a prospective
Vincenzo De Santis1, Alberto Corona2, Domenico Vitale3
1Department of Anesthesia and Intensive Care Medicine, Ospedale Santa Maria Delle Croci, Viale Randi, 5, 48121, Ravenna, Italy. vincenzo.desantis@auslromagna.it.
Purpose:
To investigate the prevalence, incidence and characteristics of bacterial infections and their impact on outcome in critically ill patients infected with COVID-19.
Methods:
We conducted a prospective observational study in eight Italian ICUs from February to May 2020; data were collected through an interactive electronic database. Kaplan-Meier analysis (limit product method) was used to identify the occurrence of infections and risk of acquisition.
Results:
During the study period 248 patients were recruited in the eight participating ICUs. Ninety (36.3%) patients developed at least one episode of secondary infection. An ICU length of stay between 7 and 14 days was characterized by a higher occurrence of infectious complications, with ventilator-associated pneumonia being the most frequent. At least one course of antibiotic therapy was given to 161 (64.9%) patients. Overall ICU and hospital mortality were 33.9% and 42.9%, respectively. Patients developing bacteremia had a higher risk of ICU mortality [45.9% vs. 31.6%, odds ratio 1.8 (95% CI 0.9-3.7), p = 0.069] and hospital mortality [56.8% vs. 40.3%, odds ratio 1.9 (95% CI 1.1-3.9), p = 0.04].
Conclusion:
In critically ill patients infected with COVID-19 the incidence of bacterial infections is high and associated with worse outcomes. Regular microbiological surveillance and strict infection control measures are mandated.
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