Incidence and role of nosocomial coinfections in patients with COVID-19 admitted to a hospital in latin america, July 2020 follow-up January 2021

ABSTRACT

Introduction: The role ofcoinfections in patients with COVID-19 has been dismissed, and their role in their prognosis and outcomes is unknown. Materials and Methods: Retrospective study of 306 adults infected by SARS-CoV-2 by antigenic or molecular test. The main objective was to evaluate the role of nosocomial coinfections in patients with COVID-19, follow-up from July 2020 to January 2021. Results: There was a higher frequency of the male gender 78 % in relation to the female 22 %, the accumulated mortalities in the presence of infection nosocomial for those under 60 were 5 (14.7 %), between 60 and 70 (28.57 %) and those over 70 years old 73 (59.8 %), showing that in those over 70 years old it doubles those between 60 and 70 and triples those under 60 years of age, all analyzes showing statistical significance, p<0.005. Discussion: The present study showed an adequate correlation between the presence of nosocomial infection and higher mortality in those who presented it, especially those older than 70 years. Conclusions: Coinfection at the time of diagnosis of COVID-19 is relatively frequent. The implicit mortality that nosocomial infections have in the COVID-19 patient makes it necessary to review care protocols and carry out epidemiological and hospital surveillance activities in these patients. Such findings could be essential to define the role of empirical antimicrobial therapy or prevention strategies. Administration at the time of suspicion of a co-infection, always in an individualized manner and based on the profiles of each health institution. © 2022 Academia Nacional de Medicina. All rights reserved.