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

• Published in: International journal of environmental research and public health 2021-01, Vol.18 (3), p.1003
• Main Authors: Bentivegna, Enrico, Luciani, Michelangelo, Arcari, Luca, Santino, Iolanda, Simmaco, Maurizio, Martelletti, Paolo
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Anti-Bacterial Agents - therapeutic use; Bacteria; Bacterial diseases; Bacterial infections; Bacterial Infections - epidemiology; Bacterial Infections - prevention & control; Case-Control Studies; Chi-square test; Coronaviruses; COVID-19; Cross Infection - epidemiology; Cross Infection - prevention & control; Drug Resistance, Multiple, Bacterial; Hospitals; Humans; Incidence; Infections; Klebsiella; Masks; Multidrug resistance; Multidrug resistant organisms; Nosocomial infection; Pandemics; Personal protective equipment; Retrospective Studies; Rome; Statistical analysis; Statistical tests; β Lactamase
• ISSN: 1660-4601; 1661-7827; 1660-4601
• DOI: 10.3390/ijerph18031003

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 ≤ 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 ( < 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 -lactamase 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.