Consequences of the COVID-19 Pandemic on the Incidence, Management and Outcomes of Staphylococcus aureus Bacteraemia: Experience in a Spanish Hospital

Abstract

This work aims to assess the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on the mortality and incidence of complications in patients with bacteraemia due to Staphylococcus aureus (BSA). All episodes of BSA at the Costa del Sol University Hospital (Marbella, Spain) were recorded during the acute phase of the COVID-19 pandemic (March 2020-March 2022) and compared with those in a previous period (February 2018-February 2020). Demographic, clinical and prognostic variables were recorded. The outcomes were measured as 14- and 30-day mortality and the incidence of complications/death. Mortality during the pandemic was 28.7% at 14 days and 35% at 30 days, while in the pre-pandemic group, it was 18.9% and 23.3%, respectively. For overall complications/deaths, the incidence rate was higher in the pandemic group, with 42.7%. No significant differences were observed between groups. Seventeen patients with COVID-19 were identified, with mortality rates of 64.7% and 70.6% at 14 and 30 days. Multivariate analysis established the presence of sepsis at diagnosis as a predictor of mortality, but not BSA, during the pandemic phase. In conclusion, BSA is a disease with high mortality, which was slightly higher during the pandemic phase. No differences were found in adherence to the bundle in our centre.

Keywords: COVID-19; Staphylococcus aureus; adherence; bacteraemia; bundle; complications; mortality; nosocomial.