Profile of Secondary Bacterial and Fungal Infections in Hospitalized COVID-19 Patients in a Tertiary Care Centre

Introduction: SARS CoV-2, a novel corona virus, has emerged in December 2019. The COVID-19 associated mortality is documented in elderly with co morbidities. To have better insight on this issue, the secondary bacterial infections with multi-drug-resistant bacteria in COVID-19 patients need to be studied to evaluate the impact of these infections on the outcome. Aim and objectives: To determine the proportion of secondary infections in COVID-19 patients. To study the spectrum of pathogens and antibiogram of the bacteria isolated from secondary infections in such patients. To evaluate the co-existing co-morbidities, treatment and outcome in these patients. Methodology: The retrospective study was conducted in Departments of Medicine and Microbiology, KMC hospitals Attavara and Ambedkar circle, Mangaluru, including all the hospitalized microbiologically confirmed cases of SARS CoV-2 infection. Details pertaining to the study population were collected using a structured proforma. Descriptive data were entered in the form of mean, median and proportions. The categorical values were analyzed using Chi square test. Values of p < 0.05 were considered as statistically significant. Results: Two hundred COVID-19 hospitalized patients were included.28 out of 200 patients (14%) studied developed secondary infections. The types of secondary infections were Respiratory infections (50%), blood stream infections (17%), UTI (14%), Rhinocerebral Zygomycosis (17%). The predominant organisms were Klebsiella pneumoniae (44%), Zygomycetes (17%). The rates of antibiotic resistance in Gram negative bacilli were 33% to Cefuroxime,25% to aminoglycosides and fluoroquinolones and 16% to carbapenems. The mortality of 42.8% was observed in patients with secondary infections. Conclusion: Close monitoring and follow up especially in high-risk group of severe COVID 19 patients is crucial for better management and outcome.