COVID-19 Pandemisi Öncesi ve Döneminde Yoğun Bakım Ünitesinde Takip Edilen Hastaların Kan Kültürü İzolatlarının Tür Dağılımı ve Antibiyotik Duyarlılıklarının Değerlendirilmesi: Retrospektif, Tek Merkez Analizi

Introduction: 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 Methods: 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: During the pandemic, antibiotic susceptibility to gram-positive and gram-negative microorganisms decreased. Although there was a significant increase in Candida spp. rates in COVID-19-positive patients, there was no decrease in their antifungal susceptibility.