Bacterial co-infections in patients with severe Covid-19 admitted to the intensive care unit in Brazil
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.17058/reci.v16i.20522Keywords:
Covid-19, Coronavirus, Bacterial Infections, Infection Control, Hospital InfectionAbstract
Background and Objectives: When associated with SARS-CoV-2, bacterial infections may significantly alter the host immune response and worsen the prognosis of Covid-19. This study aimed to determine the frequency of bacterial coinfection in patients with severe Covid-19, their antimicrobial resistance profiles, and the clinical and laboratory factors related to the presence of coinfection in patients admitted to the intensive care unit of a tertiary hospital in Northeastern Brazil. Methods: This was a retrospective cross-sectional study in which a data collection instrument was used based on medical records and laboratory results of patients admitted to the Intensive Care Unit of the Hospital das Clínicas of the Federal University of Pernambuco with severe Covid-19 between June and August 2020. An analytical statistical approach was used to compare differences between independent groups according to the presence of bacterial coinfection. Results: One hundred and one patients were evaluated, of whom forty-eight had death as the outcome. The frequency of bacterial coinfection was 32.7% (n = 33). The bacteria most associated with coinfection included Pseudomonas aeruginosa (39.4%), Acinetobacter baumannii (36.3%), Klebsiella pneumoniae (21.2%), and Staphylococcus aureus (21.2%). Resistance to carbapenems among Gram-negative bacteria and to macrolides among Gram-positive bacteria was particularly noteworthy. Laboratory analyses showed no significant differences between patients, except for elevated fibrinogen levels in coinfection cases, without an increase in mortality. Conclusion: A high frequency of bacterial coinfection and Covid-19 was observed, along with considerable antimicrobial resistance among the isolates studied. Despite the absence of relevant laboratory alterations or increased mortality rates, the importance of coinfection surveillance is emphasized for effective patient management and hospital resource allocation.
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Copyright (c) 2026 Júlia Pereira Câmara, Amanda Palmeira Marques Santos, Ana Carolina s Mattos Uchôa de Moraes, Madi Veiga Diniz, Alexsandro Pedro da Silva, Wagner Roberto Cirilo da Silva, Kledoaldo Oliveira de Lima
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