Microbiological profile of post covid patients admitted in tertiary care center with pulmonary infections

ABSTRACT

The second wave of COVID 19 started in India in the month of February 2021 lasted till June 2021. The second wave of COVID 19 was devastating in India. There were many fatalities. But the patient who recovered of COVID pneumonia also had many pulmonary complications, pulmonary infections being the most common. The use of steroids and immunosuppressive agents were considered to be one the causative factors. At our center, we did retrospective analysis of patients who were admitted with pulmonary infections in month of June and July 2021 and had history of COVID during second wave. There were in total 98 patients. The sputum and bronchial wash analysis were done for these patients. Out of 98 patients, 38 diagnosed to have tuberculosis, 18 mucormycosis, 10 aspergillosis, 22 bacterial infection (Pseudomonas and klebsiella), 2 non tubercular mycobacteria, 2 nocardiosis, 6 had mixed infections (2 NTM and Klebsiella, 3 TB with Aspergillosis and 1 Aspergillosis with mucor). Thus, it was concluded, that post covid status predisposed to pulmonary infections with not only common organism like Tuberculosis (being endemic in India) but also rare organism like mucor, nocardia, NTM. Though most of the patients received steroids and immunosuppressive therapy, 22 patients had mild COVID and didn't receive any steroids or immunosuppressive therapy. Thus, implying that steroids and immunosuppressive therapy are not the only cause of increased incidence of pulmonary infections. More such observations from different centers are required for confirmation of the observations.