Bacterial Infections Associated with COVID-19 Infection in Thi-Qar Province, Iraq

Background: Bacteriological study of clinical samples obtain from patients hospitalized with COVID-19 acquired bacterial infections. The etiology and antimicrobial resistance of bacteria were reported and used for the latest information on the relationship between bacterial infections and COVID-19. Methods: Clinical samples from COVID-19 patients were collected and analyzed for the presence of bacterial infections. Bacterial species were identified using established microbiological and molecular techniques. Antibiotic susceptibility testing was performed on isolated bacteria. Results: Bacterial infections associated with COVID-19 were studied. 384(29.4%) of patients showing evidence of bacterial infections. A total of 231 patients, accounting for 60.2% of the sample, were identified as male, while 153 patients, representing 39.8% of the sample, were identified as female. A total of 226 isolates (58.8%) were identified as bacterial species, with 158(41.2%) classified as Gram-negative bacteria and the remaining 41.2% classified as Gram-positive bacteria. The proportion of bacterial isolates in the blood was higher than other sites. Antibiotic susceptibility testing revealed varying degrees of resistance.