Bacterial Infections, Trends, and Resistance Patterns in the Time of the COVID-19 Pandemic in Romania—A Systematic Review
Dan Dumitru Vulcanescu,
Iulia Cristina Bagiu,
Cecilia Roberta Avram,
Licinia Andrada Oprisoni,
Sonia Tanasescu,
Teodora Sorescu,
Razvan Susan,
Monica Susan,
Virgiuliu Bogdan Sorop,
Mircea Mihai Diaconu,
Tiberiu Liviu Dragomir,
Octavia Oana Harich,
Razvan Mihai Horhat,
Stefania Dinu,
Florin George Horhat
Affiliations
Dan Dumitru Vulcanescu
Department of Microbiology, “Victor Babes” University of Medicine and Pharmacy, Eftimie Murgu Square No. 2, 300041 Timisoara, Romania
Iulia Cristina Bagiu
Department of Microbiology, “Victor Babes” University of Medicine and Pharmacy, Eftimie Murgu Square No. 2, 300041 Timisoara, Romania
Cecilia Roberta Avram
Department of Residential Training and Post-University Courses, “Vasile Goldis” Western University, 310414 Arad, Romania
Licinia Andrada Oprisoni
Department of Pediatrics, “Victor Babes” University of Medicine and Pharmacy, Eftimie Murgu Square No. 2, 300041 Timisoara, Romania
Sonia Tanasescu
Department of Pediatrics, “Victor Babes” University of Medicine and Pharmacy, Eftimie Murgu Square No. 2, 300041 Timisoara, Romania
Teodora Sorescu
Department of Internal Medicine II: Diabetes, Nutrition, Metabolic Diseases, and Systemic Rheumatology, “Victor Babes” University of Medicine and Pharmacy, Eftimie Murgu Square No. 2, 300041 Timisoara, Romania
Razvan Susan
Department of Family Medicine, Centre for Preventive Medicine, “Victor Babes” University of Medicine and Pharmacy, Eftimie Murgu Square No. 2, 300041 Timisoara, Romania
Monica Susan
Department of Internal Medicine I, Centre for Preventive Medicine, “Victor Babes” University of Medicine and Pharmacy, Eftimie Murgu Square No. 2, 300041 Timisoara, Romania
Virgiuliu Bogdan Sorop
Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, “Victor Babes” University of Medicine and Pharmacy, Eftimie Murgu Square No. 2, 300041 Timisoara, Romania
Mircea Mihai Diaconu
Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, “Victor Babes” University of Medicine and Pharmacy, Eftimie Murgu Square No. 2, 300041 Timisoara, Romania
Tiberiu Liviu Dragomir
Medical Semiology II Discipline, Internal Medicine Department, “Victor Babes” University of Medicine and Pharmacy, Eftimie Murgu Square No. 2, 300041 Timisoara, Romania
Octavia Oana Harich
Department of Functional Sciences, “Victor Babes” University of Medicine and Pharmacy, Eftimie Murgu Square No. 2, 300041 Timisoara, Romania
Razvan Mihai Horhat
Department of Restorative Dentistry, Faculty of Dentistry, Digital and Advanced Technique for Endodontic, Restorative and Prosthetic Treatment Research Center (TADERP), “Victor Babes” University of Medicine and Pharmacy, Revolutiei Bv. No. 9, 300041 Timișoara, Romania
Stefania Dinu
Department of Pedodontics, Faculty of Dental Medicine, “Victor Babes” University of Medicine and Pharmacy Timisoara, Revolutiei Bv. No. 9, 300041 Timisoara, Romania
Florin George Horhat
Department of Microbiology, “Victor Babes” University of Medicine and Pharmacy, Eftimie Murgu Square No. 2, 300041 Timisoara, Romania
Background: The COVID-19 pandemic has intensified concerns over bacterial infections and antimicrobial resistance, particularly in Romania. This systematic review explores bacterial infection patterns and resistance during the pandemic to address critical gaps in knowledge. Methods: A systematic review, following PRISMA guidelines, was conducted using databases such as PubMed and Scopus, focusing on studies of bacterial infections from 2020 to 2022. Articles on bacterial infections in Romanian patients during the pandemic were analyzed for demographic data, bacterial trends, and resistance profiles. Results: A total of 87 studies were included, detailing over 20,000 cases of bacterial infections. The review found that Gram-negative bacteria, particularly Escherichia coli and Klebsiella pneumoniae, were the most frequently identified pathogens, alongside Gram-positive Staphylococcus aureus and Enterococcus spp. Multidrug resistance (MDR) was noted in 24% of the reported strains, with common resistance to carbapenems and cephalosporins. Conclusions: The pandemic has amplified the complexity of managing bacterial infections, particularly in critically ill patients. The rise in MDR bacteria underscores the need for stringent antimicrobial stewardship and infection control measures. Continuous monitoring of bacterial trends and resistance profiles will be essential to improve treatment strategies in post-pandemic healthcare settings.
