INCREASE IN THE FREQUENCY OF CATHETER-RELATED BLOODSTREAM INFECTIONS DURING THE COVID-19 PANDEMIC: A PLEA FOR CONTROL

Pérez-Granda, Maria Jesús; Carrillo, Carlos Sánchez; Rabadán, Pablo Martín; Valerio, Maricela; Olmedo, María; Muñoz, Patricia; Bouza, Emilio

INTRODUCTION: The incidence of nosocomial infections including ventilator-associated pneumonia and bacteraemia has been described during the COVID-19 pandemic. However, information regarding the impact of COVID-19 on the incidence of Catheter-Related bloodstream infections (CR-BSIs) is very limited. Our aim is to evaluate the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic in the evolution of CR-BSIs in a large hospital MATERIAL AND METHODS: Retrospective study comparing the incidence, aetiology and outcome of CR-BSIs during the months of March to May 2019 (pre-pandemic) and 2020 (during the pandemic). RESULTS: The number of patients with one or more CR-BSIs in 2019 and 2020 were 23 and 58 respectively (1.89 vs 5.53/ 1,000 admissions); p<0.001. Median time from catheter implantation to demonstration of CR-BSI was 27.5 days (range 11.75 to 126.00 days) in the 2019 cases and 16.0 days (range 11.00 to 23.50 days) in the 2020 population (p =0.032). CONCLUSION: A dramatic increase of CR-BSIs was found during the COVID-19 pandemic. Reinforcement of classic and new preventive measures are necessary.