Hospital-acquired infections in patients hospitalized with COVID-19: First report from Taiwan

Abstract

Background: Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) inpatients may acquire infections from other pathogens during hospital admission. This is the first research on this subject to be reported from Taiwan. Methods: Confirmed COVID-19 inpatients were enrolled in this study from January 1, 2020 to July 31, 2021. Various types of pathogens in COVID-19 inpatients, with hospital-acquired infections, were identified and analyzed. The clinical characteristics of COVID-19 patients with and without hospital-acquired infections were reviewed and compared. Results: Of the 204 patients included in the study, 32 (15.7%) patients experienced at least one infectious episode. Of 113 recorded episodes of infection, the predominant type was bacterial (88 of 113 infections, 77.9%); the most frequently isolated bacteria were Acinetobacter spp., followed by Stenotrophomonas maltophilia. With regard to viral infections (19 of 113, 16.8%), the Epstein-Barr virus ranked first place among the identified viruses. Four (3.5%) and 2 (1.8%) of 113 infectious episodes were caused by fungi and atypical pathogens. A multivariate analysis revealed that steroid use was an independent factor in hospitalacquired infections (odds ratio [OR], 6.97; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.15-42.43; p = 0.035). Patients with hospital-acquired infections were associated with increased 28-day and in-hospital mortality (18.8% vs 5.8% and 31.3% and 5.8%; p = 0.023 and <0.01, respectively), and a longer hospital stay (34 vs 19 days; p < 0.001), compared to those without hospital-acquired infections. Conclusion: Our study revealed the unique local epidemiology of hospital-acquired infections among COVID-19 inpatients in Taiwan. These patients were associated with increased mortality and prolonged hospital admissions.

Reactivation of herpesviruses during COVID‐19: A systematic review and meta‐analysis

“…The detailed screening process is available in Figure 1. Finally, 32 articles were included in our systematic review 15,18–48 . The characteristics of included studies are shown in Table 1.…”

Emerging infections in vulnerable hosts: Stenotrophomonas maltophilia and Elizabethkingia anophelis

“…The most common disease entity for both pathogens is lower respiratory tract infections. During [53]. Another study in Qatar investigated risk factors for the isolation of multidrug-resistant (MDR) Gramnegative bacteria from critically ill COVID-19 patients.…”

“…Acinetobacter spp. (19/88, 21.6%) were the most frequently isolated bacteria, and S. maltophilia (14/88, 15.9%) was second [53]. Another study in Qatar investigated risk factors for the isolation of multidrug-resistant (MDR) Gram-negative bacteria from critically ill COVID-19 patients.…”

Upraising Stenotrophomonas maltophilia in Critically Ill Patients: A New Enemy?

“…The increasing incidence of S. maltophilia infections has been highlighted during the COVID-19 epidemic [ 10 ]. Recent studies have shown increased prevalence of S. maltophilia infections, among hospitalized COVID-19 patients, leading the race of pathogens together with A.baumani [ 11 ]. S. maltophilia has also been recognized as a cause of outbreaks and pseudo-outbreaks, the latter being attributed to the colonization of bronchoscopic and other respiratory equipment by this microorganism [ 12 , 13 , 14 ].…”