Epidemiological Characteristics and Antimicrobial Resistance Changes of Carbapenem-Resistant and under the COVID-19 Outbreak: An Interrupted Time Series Analysis in a Large Teaching Hospital.

BACKGROUND

To investigate the epidemiological characteristics and resistance changes of carbapenem-resistant organisms (CROs) under the COVID-19 outbreak to provide evidence for precise prevention and control measures against hospital-acquired infections during the pandemic.

METHODS

The distribution characteristics of CROs (i.e., carbapenem-resistant and ) were analyzed by collecting the results of the antibiotic susceptibility tests of diagnostic isolates from all patients. Using interrupted time series analysis, we applied Poisson and linear segmented regression models to evaluate the effects of COVID-19 on the numbers and drug resistance of CROs. We also conducted a stratified analysis using the Cochran-Mantel-Haenszel test.

RESULTS

The resistance rate of carbapenem-resistant (CRAB) was 38.73% higher after the COVID-19 outbreak compared with before ( < 0.05). In addition, the long-term effect indicated that the prevalence of CRAB had a decreasing trend ( < 0.05). However, the overall resistance rate of did not significantly change after the COVID-19 outbreak. Stratified analysis revealed that the carbapenem-resistant (CRKP) rate increased in females (OR = 1.98, < 0.05), those over 65 years old (OR = 1.49, < 0.05), those with sputum samples (OR = 1.40, < 0.05), and those in the neurology group (OR = 2.14, < 0.05).

CONCLUSION

The COVID-19 pandemic has affected the change in nosocomial infections and resistance rates in CROs, highlighting the need for hospitals to closely monitor CROs, especially in high-risk populations and clinical departments. It is possible that lower adherence to infection control in crowded wards and staffing shortages may have contributed to this trend during the COVID-19 pandemic, which warrants further research.