Langford BJ, So M, Leung V, Raybardhan S, Lo J, Kan T, Leung F, Westwood D, Daneman N, MacFadden DR, Soucy JPR. Predictors and microbiology of respiratory and bloodstream bacterial infection in patients with COVID-19: living rapid review update and meta-regression.
Clin Microbiol Infect 2021;
28:491-501. [PMID:
34843962 PMCID:
PMC8619885 DOI:
10.1016/j.cmi.2021.11.008]
[Citation(s) in RCA: 33] [Impact Index Per Article: 11.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/30/2021] [Revised: 10/27/2021] [Accepted: 11/05/2021] [Indexed: 12/15/2022]
Abstract
Background
The prevalence of bacterial infection in patients with COVID-19 is low, however, empiric antibiotic use is high. Risk stratification may be needed to minimize unnecessary empiric antibiotic use.
Objective
To identify risk factors and microbiology associated with respiratory and bloodstream bacterial infection in patients with COVID-19.
Data sources
We searched MEDLINE, OVID Epub and EMBASE for published literature up to 5 February 2021.
Study eligibility criteria
Studies including at least 50 patients with COVID-19 in any healthcare setting.
Methods
We used a validated ten-item risk of bias tool for disease prevalence. The main outcome of interest was the proportion of COVID-19 patients with bloodstream and/or respiratory bacterial co-infection and secondary infection. We performed meta-regression to identify study population factors associated with bacterial infection including healthcare setting, age, comorbidities and COVID-19 medication.
Results
Out of 33 345 studies screened, 171 were included in the final analysis. Bacterial infection data were available from 171 262 patients. The prevalence of co-infection was 5.1% (95% CI 3.6–7.1%) and secondary infection was 13.1% (95% CI 9.8–17.2%). There was a higher odds of bacterial infection in studies with a higher proportion of patients in the intensive care unit (ICU) (adjusted OR 18.8, 95% CI 6.5–54.8). Female sex was associated with a lower odds of secondary infection (adjusted OR 0.73, 95% CI 0.55–0.97) but not co-infection (adjusted OR 1.05, 95% CI 0.80–1.37). The most common organisms isolated included Staphylococcus aureus, coagulase-negative staphylococci and Klebsiella species.
Conclusions
While the odds of respiratory and bloodstream bacterial infection are low in patients with COVID-19, meta-regression revealed potential risk factors for infection, including ICU setting and mechanical ventilation. The risk for secondary infection is substantially greater than the risk for co-infection in patients with COVID-19. Understanding predictors of co-infection and secondary infection may help to support improved antibiotic stewardship in patients with COVID-19.
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