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Review
. 2021 Aug 10;10(8):1006.
doi: 10.3390/pathogens10081006.

Acinetobacter baumannii Infections in Times of COVID-19 Pandemic

Karyne Rangel  1 , Thiago Pavoni Gomes Chagas  2 , Salvatore Giovanni De-Simone  1   3
Affiliations
Review

Acinetobacter baumannii Infections in Times of COVID-19 Pandemic

Karyne Rangel et al. Pathogens. .

Abstract

The COVID-19 pandemic has generated an overuse of antimicrobials in critically ill patients. Acinetobacter baumannii frequently causes nosocomial infections, particularly in intensive care units (ICUs), where the incidence has increased over time. Since the WHO declared the COVID-19 pandemic on 12 March 2020, the disease has spread rapidly, and many of the patients infected with SARS-CoV-2 needed to be admitted to the ICU. Bacterial co-pathogens are commonly identified in viral respiratory infections and are important causes of morbidity and mortality. However, we cannot neglect the increased incidence of antimicrobial resistance, which may be attributed to the excess use of antimicrobial agents during the COVID-19 pandemic. Patients with COVID-19 could be vulnerable to other infections owing to multiple comorbidities with severe COVID-19, prolonged hospitalization, and SARS-CoV-2-associated immune dysfunction. These patients have acquired secondary bacterial infections or superinfections, mainly bacteremia and urinary tract infections. This review will summarize the prevalence of A. baumannii coinfection and secondary infection in patients with COVID-19.

Keywords: Acinetobacter baumannii; COVID-19; antimicrobial resistance; infections.

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Conflict of interest statement

The authors declare no conflict of interest.

Figures

Figure 1
Figure 1
Schematic representation of the different mechanisms of resistance developed by A. baumannii. In the middle of the cell are the antibiotics.
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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