Adherence to Staphylococcus aureus Bacteremia Management Recommendations Before, During, and After the COVID-19 Pandemic: Prognostic Implications.

Abstract

Background/Objectives: This work aims to assess the evolution in the management of Staphylococcus aureus bacteremia (SAB) and the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on it. SAB is associated with high morbidity and mortality, requiring structured management strategies. The COVID-19 pandemic led to major changes in hospital workflows, potentially affecting the quality of SAB care. Methods: We conducted a retrospective per-protocol analysis of SAB episodes at Costa del Sol University Hospital (Marbella, Spain) across three periods: pre-pandemic, pandemic, and post-pandemic. Patients with early mortality or early transfer were excluded. Clinical variables, adherence to recommended management bundles, and outcomes were compared. Demographic characteristics were similar across the analyzed periods. Results: The incidence of SAB increased over time, with a notable rise post-pandemic. Key management indicators such as the identification of infection source and appropriate antibiotic therapy showed adherence rates of above 90%, while echocardiography exhibited an adherence rate of above 75% throughout the study. Adherence to the full management bundle was suboptimal, with no significant differences between periods. However, an appropriate treatment duration significantly improved in the post-pandemic group (p = 0.038). Mortality at 14 and 30 days was highest during the pandemic period (10.3% and 17.6%, respectively), although differences were not statistically significant. Complications and mortality were more frequent in patients with complete adherence to the bundle (p = 0.031). Conclusions: Despite stable or improved adherence to certain SAB management measures during the pandemic, mortality and complication rates did not significantly decrease, likely reflecting increased patient severity or healthcare system overload. These findings highlight the need for sustained, multidisciplinary, bedside-based approaches to SAB care, even during public health emergencies. Further research is needed to explore modifiable factors and enhance adherence to evidence-based recommendations.