Antibiotic resistance patterns in infections associated with health care in a Third Level Center with hospital reconversion in the COVID-19 pandemic

Abstract

Objetive: Description of the different isolated microorganisms and their prevalence in infections associated with health care, in addition to determining their patterns of resistance to antibiotics in patients admitted with a confirmed or suspected diagnosis of COVID-19 in the Intensive Care Unit, during a third-level medical center with hospital reconversion. Method: Patient demographic data was obtained from the clinical record, with defined criteria. Antibiotic resistance patterns were evaluated as well as the identification of isolated bacteria in cultures of expectoration, pleural fluid, catheter tips. For bacterial identification and resistance mechanisms, automated equipment and phenotypic tests were used, following the CLSI (Clinical & Laboratory Standards Institute) criteria. Results: A total of 100 patients with bacterial infection added to the main COVID-19 picture were obtained, representing pneumonia, urinary tract infection, catheter infections and bacteremia. A total of 100 strains were isolated, of which 84 are Extremely Drug Resistant, 12 Multidrug Resistant and only 4 variable sensitivity. The bacteria with the highest prevalence is Staphylococcus aureus with, followed by Pseudonomas aeruginosa and Stenotrophomonas maltophilia. 100% of the patients admitted to the ICU (Intensive Care Unit) had death. Conclusion: The increase in resistance to antibiotics in the COVID-19 pandemic has set off alarms due to the complication that this brings, and the improper use of drugs as prophylaxis or attempted treatment only generates selective pressure that leads to an increase in resistance as observed in the isolated strains in this study, where the vast majority present enzymes as well as other resistance mechanisms that confer them to be XDR (Extremely Drug Resistant).