Title : Prevalence of co-infections among hospitalized patients with COVID-19 at a tertiary-care Hospital, Muscat, Oman: A retrospective study
Abstract:
Objectives and rationale: This study aims to investigate the prevalence, demographics, and risks of co-infections among hospitalized patients at Sultan Qaboos University Hospital (SQUH); a tertiary-care hospital in Muscat, Oman.
Aim: This study aims to identify the most common etiologies of co-infections and the associated pathogens in coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) patients admitted to Sultan Qaboos University hospital (SQUH). In addition, it aims to assess the risk factors and the empirical antimicrobial therapy prescribed during their admission.
Methods: A 2-year retrospective cohort study that included a total of 2000 adult patients admitted with moderate to severe COVID-19 and associated with the presence of co-infection at SQUH from January 2020 to December 2021. All the clinical and demographic data were provided by the electronic medical record. The data were analyzed using the Statistical package for social science software Version 23 (SPSS).
Results: Out of the 150 co-infected COVID-19 patients, Respiratory pathogens predominated. Bacterial etiologies were the most common; including Klebsiella pneumonia (19%) which was the leading pathogen to cause bacterial co-infections, followed by Pseudomonas aeruginosa (14%) and MRSA(11%). Fungal etiologies were also common and were mostly caused by candida species. Viruses affected 9% of COVID patients and were mostly caused by Rhinovirus, followed by Adenovirus. There is an association between co-infections and the prevalence of older age groups (>50), and ventilation usage (all types of ventilation). More than two-third of the patients were males. The most common empirical antibiotic used was ceftriaxone, followed by Azithromycin and meropenem.
Conclusion: The most common co-infection associated with COVID are bacterial, followed by fungal and, to a lesser extent, viral co-infection. This could help direct the treatment and management of COVID-19 by improving modifiable risk factors that can predispose to these co-infections. Co-infections are common and severe, particularly in ventilated patients who require special attention.
