Reduction of Multidrug-Resistant (MDR) Bacterial Infections during the COVID-19 Pandemic: A Retrospective Study

Enrico Bentivegna, Michelangelo Luciani, Luca Arcari, Iolanda Santino, Maurizio Simmaco and Paolo Martelletti
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Enrico Bentivegna: Internal Medicine and Emergency Medicine, St’Andrea Hospital, Sapienza University, 00189 Rome, Italy
Michelangelo Luciani: Internal Medicine and Emergency Medicine, St’Andrea Hospital, Sapienza University, 00189 Rome, Italy
Luca Arcari: Covid-Cardiology Unit, Madre Giuseppina Vannini Hospital, 00177 Rome, Italy
Iolanda Santino: Hospital Direction and Clinical Departments, St’Andrea Hospital, Department of Neurosciences, Mental Health and Sensory Organs, Sapienza University, 00189 Rome, Italy
Maurizio Simmaco: Hospital Direction and Clinical Departments, St’Andrea Hospital, Department of Neurosciences, Mental Health and Sensory Organs, Sapienza University, 00189 Rome, Italy
Paolo Martelletti: Internal Medicine and Emergency Medicine, St’Andrea Hospital, Sapienza University, 00189 Rome, Italy

IJERPH, 2021, vol. 18, issue 3, 1-8

Abstract: Multidrug-resistant (MDR) organisms are emerging as some of the main healthcare problems worldwide. During the COVID-19 pandemic, several Infection Prevention and Control (IPC) measures have been adopted to reduce nosocomial microorganism transmission. We performed a case–control study to identify if the incidence of MDR bacterial infections while using pandemic-related preventive measures is lower than in previous years. From 2017 to 2020, we monitored hospital discharges over a four-month period (P #) (1 March to 30 June) in St. Andrea Hospital, Rome. In total, we reported 1617 discharges. Pearson’s chi-squared test was used to identify significant differences. A value of p ≤ 0.05 was considered statistically significant. A significant reduction in the incidence of total MDR bacterial infections was observed during the pandemic compared to in prepandemic years ( p < 0.05). We also found a significantly higher incidence of MDR bacterial infections in COVID-19 departments compared with other medical departments (29% and 19%, respectively), with extended-spectrum β -lactamase Klebsiella pneumoniae as the pathogens presenting the highest increase. This study demonstrates that maintaining a high level of preventive measures could help tackle an important health problem such as that of the spread of MDR bacteria.

Keywords: COVID-19; SARS-CoV-2; multidrug resistant; prevention; hygiene; PPI; nosocomial infections; hospital-acquired infections (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: I I1 I3 Q Q5 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2021
References: View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (1)

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