Multidrug-Resistant Infections and Outcome of Critically Ill Patients with Coronavirus Disease 2019: A Single Center Experience

Microb Drug Resist. 2021 Sep;27(9):1167-1175. doi: 10.1089/mdr.2020.0489. Epub 2021 Feb 17.

Abstract

Background: The aim of this study was to assess the drivers of multidrug-resistant (MDR) bacterial infection development in coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) and its impact on patient outcome. Methods: Retrospective analysis on data from 32 consecutive patients with COVID-19, admitted to our intensive care unit (ICU) from March to May 2020. Outcomes considered were MDR infection and ICU mortality. Results: Fifty percent of patients developed an MDR infection during ICU stay after a median time of 8 [4-11] days. Most common MDR pathogens were carbapenem-resistant Klebsiella pneumoniae and Acinetobacter baumannii, causing bloodstream infections and pneumonia. MDR infections were linked to a higher length of ICU stay (p = 0.002), steroid therapy (p = 0.011), and associated with a lower ICU mortality (odds ratio: 0.439, 95% confidence interval: 0.251-0.763; p < 0.001). Low-dose aspirin intake was associated with both MDR infection (p = 0.043) and survival (p = 0.015). Among MDR patients, mortality was related with piperacillin-tazobactam use (p = 0.035) and an earlier onset of MDR infection (p = 0.042). Conclusions: MDR infections were a common complication in critically ill COVID-19 patients at our center. MDR risk was higher among those dwelling longer in the ICU and receiving steroids. However, MDR infections were not associated with a worse outcome.

Keywords: COVID-19; ICU; MDR; SARS-CoV-2; outcome.

MeSH terms

  • Acinetobacter Infections / drug therapy
  • Acinetobacter Infections / microbiology
  • Acinetobacter Infections / mortality*
  • Acinetobacter Infections / virology
  • Acinetobacter baumannii / drug effects
  • Acinetobacter baumannii / growth & development
  • Acinetobacter baumannii / pathogenicity
  • Adult
  • Aged
  • Anti-Bacterial Agents / therapeutic use
  • Aspirin / therapeutic use
  • COVID-19 / microbiology
  • COVID-19 / mortality*
  • COVID-19 / virology
  • COVID-19 Drug Treatment
  • Carbapenems / therapeutic use
  • Critical Illness
  • Drug Resistance, Multiple, Bacterial*
  • Female
  • Hospital Mortality
  • Humans
  • Intensive Care Units
  • Klebsiella Infections / drug therapy
  • Klebsiella Infections / microbiology
  • Klebsiella Infections / mortality*
  • Klebsiella Infections / virology
  • Klebsiella pneumoniae / drug effects
  • Klebsiella pneumoniae / growth & development
  • Klebsiella pneumoniae / pathogenicity
  • Length of Stay / statistics & numerical data
  • Male
  • Middle Aged
  • Opportunistic Infections / drug therapy
  • Opportunistic Infections / microbiology
  • Opportunistic Infections / mortality*
  • Opportunistic Infections / virology
  • Piperacillin, Tazobactam Drug Combination / therapeutic use
  • Pneumonia / drug therapy
  • Pneumonia / microbiology
  • Pneumonia / mortality*
  • Pneumonia / virology
  • Retrospective Studies
  • SARS-CoV-2 / drug effects
  • SARS-CoV-2 / pathogenicity*
  • SARS-CoV-2 / physiology
  • Steroids / therapeutic use
  • Survival Analysis
  • Treatment Outcome

Substances

  • Anti-Bacterial Agents
  • Carbapenems
  • Steroids
  • Piperacillin, Tazobactam Drug Combination
  • Aspirin