Bacterial infections associated with COVID-19 in patients of the Intensive Care Unit

Abstract

Introduction: The first reports from China suggested that coinfection with other pathogens in COVID-19 was abnormal, the latest evidence has shown that other infections may appear, especially in severe patients. Objective: To describe the bacterial infections associated with COVID-19, in patients in an intensive care unit. Methods: A descriptive study was carried out in the period from March 24 to May 24, 2020, in the intensive care unit of the Military Hospital "Comandante Manuel Piti Fajardo". The study population consisted of 13 patients from 49 to 91 years, those who remained hospitalized in that room, with a confirmed diagnosis, by the real-time reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction test for SARS-CoV-2. The study variables were: age, sex, clothing, personal pathological history, status at discharge, isolated microorganisms and antimicrobial susceptibility. Results: 61.5% of the patients were female, the mean age was 78.8 years, 61.5% died, and among these, 44.4% had coinfection. 66.7% and 55.6% of those with high blood pressure and ischemic heart disease, respectively, developed a coinfection. Escherichia coli was the most frequently isolated microorganism. Conclusions: Females predominated in the series studied, mortality was high, a high percentage of bacterial preparation and comorbidities was evident. More than half of the patients died. Gram-negative bacteria were the microorganisms that were most isolated. Antimicrobial resistance levels were high.

Keywords

• coronavirus
• covid-19
• unidad de cuidados intensivos
• resistencia antimicrobiana
• sars-cov-2
• infección bacteriana
• muerte