Microbial profile and antimicrobial resistance patterns of ocular infection pre/during and post the COVID-19 pandemic

This research investigated the distribution characteristics and antimicrobial resistance patterns of pathogenic microorganisms in patients with ocular infection before/during and post the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic.

This retrospective study, conducted at the Second People's Hospital of Jinan, Shandong, China, analyzed the microorganism cultures of specimens (eye secretions, anterior chamber fluid, and vitreous body) obtained from patients with ocular infection (including ocular trauma, endophthalmitis, keratitis, conjunctivitis, dacryocystitis, and blepharitis) pre/during (from May 2019 to January 2023, A group) and after (from February 2023 to November 2024, B group) the COVID-19 pandemic. The microorganism species was analyzed using a microbial identification instrument, and antimicrobial susceptibility testing was carried out using Kirby-Bauer (K-B) disk diffusion method.

465 and 319 strains of pathogenic microorganisms were obtained from specimens in A and B groups, respectively. The isolates of Fusarium, Aspergillus and other Filamentous fungi were significantly increased in B group, while no substantial difference was discovered in the isolates of gram-positive or gram-negative bacteria between these two groups. Increased resistances of Staphylococcus epidermidis to ampicillin (100%) and Penicillin G (100%), Staphylococcus aureus to ampicillin (100%) and penicillin G (100%), and corynebacterium to cotrimoxazole (90.0%) were observed in B group, in comparison with those of A group (65.5, 64.7, 26.9, 25.6 and 66.7%, respectively). The infection rate of type I incision of ocular surgery during the pandemic (0.018%) was substantially lower than that pre (0.07%) or post (0.06%) the prevalence.

Changes in resistance patterns were observed after the COVID-19 pandemic, which might be influenced by relaxation of infection prevention and control (IPC) measures. These alterations might be also attributed to other factors, such us changes over time or the use of antibiotics. And further investigation was required to establish causality.