Bloodstream Infections During COVID-19

ABSTRACT

Researchers at the Imperial College Hospital and School of Public Health in London examined patterns of bloodstream infection (BSI), hospital stay, and mortality before and during two waves of COVID-19 between January 2020 and February 2021. Despite a decrease in the number of total hospital admissions by 65% during the surges, mostly because of the suspension of elective activities, blood cultures were obtained at a rate nearly double that of pre-COVID, up from 86.8/1,000 patient days pre-COVID to 150.7/1,000 patient days during both COVID surges. The authors believe both the higher rate of contaminated cultures and the increase in hospital-acquired BSI can be directly traced to the effect of both COVID surges on the hospital system, with disruptions in care and breakdown of usual infection prevention practices.