Bacterial co-infection in Covid-19 patients visiting a tertiary care hospital in Maharashtra

Background and objectives: Several patients with SARS-CoV-2 infection presents with bacterial co-infection. The aim of the present study was to determine the bacteria responsible for co-infection in Covid-19 infected patients visiting a tertiary care hospital of Maharashtra, India. Material and methods: A cross sectional study was conducted for 3 months at tertiary care center. Covid-19 patients attending the hospital were included in the study. All the specimens were collected either at the time of admission at outdoor or within 24-48 hours of admission. All the specimens were processed for culture and antibiotic susceptibility testing as per institutional policy and standard methods. Results: Total 200 samples were collected out of which 98 (49%) patients were diagnosed with bacterial co-infection. Majority of cases with bacterial co-infection were above 21 years of age. Culture was positive in 80%, 66.7%, 49.2% and 38.8% of tracheal aspirate, pus, blood and urine samples respectively. Out of 98 cases of bacterial co-infection, 62.2% and 37.8% had infection with Gram negative and positive bacteria respectively. Most common organism isolated was Klebsiella pneumoniae (20.4%) followed by Enterococcus species (14.3%). Over 70% of Klebsiella pneumoniae isolates were resistant to aminoglycosides, cephalosporins, fluroquinolones and carbapenems while 100% Acinetobacter was resistant to all antimicrobials tested. Among 57 Of the Gram negative isolates, 5 and 24 isolates were positive for ESBL carbapenemase respectively. Conclusion: The study revealed that bacterial co-infection was present in considerable proportion of Covid-19 patients and the organisms responsible were resistant to several antimicrobial agents. IMC J Med Sci. 2023; 17(2):006. DOI: https://doi.org/10.55010/imcjms.17.016 *Correspondence: Sahjid Mukhida, Department of Microbiology, Dr. D. Y. Patil Medical College, Hospital and Research Centre, Dr. D. Y. Patil Vidyapeeth, Pimpri, Pune, Maharashtra, India-411018. E-mail: drssmukhida@rediffmail.com