Secondary bacterial infection in COVID-19 patients is a stronger predictor for death compared to influenza patients.
Sci Rep
; 11(1): 12703, 2021 06 16.
Article
in English
| MEDLINE | ID: covidwho-1275958
ABSTRACT
Secondary bacterial infections are a potentially fatal complication of influenza infection. We aimed to define the impact of secondary bacterial infections on the clinical course and mortality in coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) patients by comparison with influenza patients. COVID-19 (n = 642) and influenza (n = 742) patients, admitted to a large tertiary center in Israel and for whom blood or sputum culture had been taken were selected for this study. Bacterial culture results, clinical parameters, and death rates were compared. COVID-19 patients had higher rates of bacterial infections than influenza patients (12.6% vs. 8.7%). Notably, the time from admission to bacterial growth was longer in COVID-19 compared to influenza patients (4 (1-8) vs. 1 (1-3) days). Late infections (> 48 h after admission) with gram-positive bacteria were more common in COVID-19 patients (28% vs. 9.5%). Secondary infection was associated with a higher risk of death in both patient groups 2.7-fold (1.22-5.83) for COVID-19, and 3.09-fold (1.11-7.38) for Influenza). The association with death remained significant upon adjustment to age and clinical parameters in COVID-19 but not in influenza infection. Secondary bacterial infection is a notable complication associated with worse outcomes in COVID-19 than influenza patients. Careful surveillance and prompt antibiotic treatment may benefit selected patients.
Full text:
Available
Collection:
International databases
Database:
MEDLINE
Main subject:
Influenza A virus
/
Gram-Positive Bacterial Infections
/
Gram-Negative Bacterial Infections
/
Influenza, Human
/
Pandemics
/
Coinfection
/
SARS-CoV-2
/
COVID-19
/
Gram-Negative Bacteria
/
Gram-Positive Bacteria
Type of study:
Experimental Studies
/
Observational study
/
Prognostic study
/
Randomized controlled trials
Limits:
Adult
/
Aged
/
Female
/
Humans
/
Male
/
Middle aged
Country/Region as subject:
Asia
Language:
English
Journal:
Sci Rep
Year:
2021
Document Type:
Article
Affiliation country:
S41598-021-92220-0
Similar
MEDLINE
...
LILACS
LIS