Staphylococcus Aureus Infection Risk in Intensive Care Unit Patients during the Covid-19 Pandemic

ABSTRACT

INTRODUCTION: Although Staphylococcus aureus is known to be a poor prognostic factor in coronavirus disease of 2019 (SARS-CoV-2 or COVID-19), it is unclear if COVID-19 increases the risk of S. aureus infections. The purpose of this study is to give healthcare providers a better understanding of the pharmacological risk factors that may predispose patients to a S. aureus co-infection in COVID-19 positive patients. METHOD(S) This retrospective chart review included adult patients treated at a Spectrum Health medical or cardiothoracic ICU between October 2020 and November 2021. To be included in the exposure arm of the analysis, patients had to have a positive culture for S. aureus. A chi-square analysis was utilized for the primary outcome while a logistic regression was used to uncover possible risk factors for S. aureus in COVID-19 patients. Overall, S. aureus infections were compared between patients with and without COVID-19 with a secondary analysis that was done for patients who had been treated with tocilizumab or dexamethasone. RESULT(S) A total of 406 patients were included;96 patients were positive for S. aureus, and 310 patients remained negative throughout their admission. COVID-19 patients were more likely to acquire a S. aureus infection than their COVID-19 negative counterparts (p < 0.0001). Neither tocilizumab nor dexamethasone use were statistically significant in increasing risk of S. aureus co-infection. CONCLUSION(S) COVID-19 patients are more likely to acquire S. aureus infections than their COVID-19 negative counterparts. Dexamethasone and tocilizumab use were not associated with increased incidence of S. aureus infections in COVID-19 patients.