Multidrug-Resistant Bacteria in a COVID-19 Hospital in Zagreb

Scientific paper - Original scientific paper

• Author: Branka Bedenić
• Author: Vesna Bratić
• Author: Slobodan Mihaljević
• Author: Anita Lukić
• Author: Karlo Vidović
• Author: Krešimir Reiner
• Author: Silvia Schöenthaler
• Author: Ivan Barišić
• Author: Gernot Zarfel
• Author: Andrea Grisold
• Author's institution: University of Zagreb; School of Medicine; (Department of Medical Microbiology and Parasitology)
• Scientific / art field, discipline and subdiscipline: BIOMEDICINE AND HEALTHCARE; Clinical Medical Sciences; Anesthesiology and Reanimatology
• Scientific / art field, discipline and subdiscipline: BIOMEDICINE AND HEALTHCARE; Clinical Medical Sciences; Medical Microbiology

Abstract (english)

During November to December 2020, a high rate of COVID-19-associated pneumonia with bacterial superinfections due to multidrug-resistant (MDR) pathogens was recorded in a COVID-19 hospital in Zagreb. This study analyzed the causative agents of bacterial superinfections among patients with serious forms of COVID-19. In total, 118 patients were hospitalized in the intensive care unit (ICU) of the COVID-19 hospital. Forty-six out of 118 patients (39%) developed serious bacterial infection (VAP or BSI or both) during their stay in ICU. The total mortality rate was 83/118 (70%). The mortality rate due to bacterial infection or a combination of ARDS with bacterial superinfection was 33% (40/118). Six patients had MDR organisms and 34 had XDR (extensively drug-resistant). The dominant species was Acinetobacter baumannii with all isolates (34) being carbapenem-resistant (CRAB) and positive for carbapenem-hydrolyzing oxacillinases (CHDL). One Escherichia coli causing pneumonia harboured the blaCTX-M-15 gene. It appears that the dominant resistance determinants of causative agents depend on the local epidemiology in the particular COVID center. Acinetobacter baumannii seems to easily spread in overcrowded ICUs. Croatia belongs to the 15 countries in the world with the highest mortality rate among COVID-19 patients, which could be in part attributable to the high prevalence of bacterial infections in local ICUs.

• Keywords (english): Acinetobacter baumannii; COVID-19; OXA-48; multidrug-resistant bacteria
• Language: english
• Publication type: Scientific paper - Original scientific paper
• Publication status: Published
• Peer review: Peer review
• Publication version: Published version
• Journal title: Pathogens
• Numbering: vol. 12, no. 1, 117
• e-ISSN: 2076-0817
• DOI: https://doi.org/10.3390/pathogens12010117
• URN:NBN: urn:nbn:hr:105:817919
• Publication: 2023-01-10
• Document URL: https://www.mdpi.com/2076-0817/12/1/117
• Type of resource: Text
• Access conditions: Open access
• Created on: 2024-01-23 09:26:48