- Anka Tıp Dergisi
- Cilt: 5 Sayı: 2
- Evaluation of Species Distribution and Antibiotic Susceptibility of Blood Culture Isolates of Patien...
Evaluation of Species Distribution and Antibiotic Susceptibility of Blood Culture Isolates of Patients Followed in the Intensive Care Unit Before and During the COVID-19 Pandemic: Retrospective, Single-Center Analysis
Authors : Kadir Arslan, Ayça Sultan Şahin
Pages : 71-77
Doi:10.38175/phnx.1222179
View : 134 | Download : 226
Publication Date : 2023-07-01
Article Type : Research
Abstract :Objective: This study aims to identify the microorganism species isolated from blood cultures of patients hospitalized in the ICU of a tertiary center before and during the COVID-19 pandemic and to investigate their antibiotic susceptibility. Material and Method: Patients hospitalized in the ICU two years before and after the COVID-19 pandemic between March 15, 2019, and March 15, 2021, were divided into two groups, and their blood cultures were evaluated retrospectively. Isolated microorganisms and their antibiotic susceptibility were analyzed. Results: A total of 1282 patients’ blood cultures were analyzed, and demographic data were similar between groups. Blood culture growth was detected in 39.6% (n=202) of the patients in the pre-pandemic period and 41% (n=317) in the pandemic period. Gram-positive bacteria were isolated in 71.3%, gram-negative bacteria in 21.6%, and Candida spp. in 7.1% of the population. Klebsiella spp. was significantly higher, and Enterococcus spp. was significantly lower in blood cultures during the pandemic. In the COVID-19 period, although not significant, a decrease in antibiotic susceptibility was detected for Staphylococcus aureus, Klebsiella spp., E.coli, Enterobacter spp., and Pseudomonas spp. There was a statistically significant decrease in susceptibility to teicoplanin and linezolid in coagulase-negative staphylococci (CNS). During the pandemic, 57.6% (n=172) of the patients were positive for COVID-19. In COVID-19-positive patients, while Candida spp. was significantly higher, no decrease in antifungal susceptibility was detected. Conclusion: The severe COVID-19 infection in immunocompromised patients may have led to a significant increase in secondary infections, contributing to the increase in Klebsiella strains isolated from patients in the pandemic period and the reduction in antimicrobial susceptibility. The decrease in cross-contamination in these patients, who were followed up in isolated rooms in our ICU, was influential in the significantly lower detection of Enterococcus strains. High-dose steroids in the treatment effectively increased the number of isolated Candida strains.Keywords : Antibiyotik duyarlılığı, COVID-19, kan kültürü, yoğun bakım ünitesi