Effectiveness of the Bactiseal Universal Shunt for reducing shunt infection in a sub-Saharan African context: a retrospective cohort study in 160 Ugandan children

2014 ◽  
Vol 13 (2) ◽  
pp. 140-144 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jordan D. Lane ◽  
John Mugamba ◽  
Peter Ssenyonga ◽  
Benjamin C. Warf
Keyword(s):  
Cohort Study ◽  
Low Income ◽  
Retrospective Cohort Study ◽  
Retrospective Cohort ◽  
Shunt Infection ◽  
Low Income Countries ◽  
Rank Test ◽  
Log Rank Test ◽  
Significant Difference ◽  
Chi Square Analysis

Object Antibiotic-impregnated shunts have yet to find widespread use in the developing world, largely due to cost. Given potential differences in the microbial spectrum, their effectiveness in preventing shunt infection for populations in low-income countries may differ and has not been demonstrated. This study is the first to compare the efficacy of a Bactiseal shunt system with a non–antibiotic-impregnated system in a developing country. Methods The Bactiseal Universal Shunt (BUS) was placed in 80 consecutive Ugandan children who required a shunt. In this retrospective cohort study, the outcome for that group was compared with the outcome for the immediately preceding 80 consecutive children in whom a Chhabra shunt had been placed. The primary end points were shunt failure, shunt infection, and death. Shunt survival was analyzed using the Kaplan-Meier method. Significance of differences between groups was tested using the log-rank test, chi-square analysis, Fisher's exact test, and t-test. Results There was no difference between groups in regard to age, sex, or etiology of hydrocephalus. Mean follow-up for cases of nonfailure was 7.6 months (median 7.8 months, interquartile range 6.5–9.5 months). There was no significant difference between groups for any end point. The BUS group had fewer infections (4 vs 11), but the difference was not significant (p = 0.086, log-rank test). Gram-positive cocci were the most common culturable pathogens in the Chhabra group, while the only positive culture in the BUS group was a gram-negative rod. Conclusions These results provide equipoise for a randomized controlled trial in the same population and this has been initiated. It is possible that the observed trends may become significant in a larger study. The more complex task will involve determining not only the efficacy, but also the cost-effectiveness of using antibiotic-impregnated shunt components in limited-resource settings.

scholarly journals Cross-border healthcare and prognosis of HIV infection in the triple border Brazil-Paraguay-Argentina

2019 ◽  
Vol 35 (9) ◽  
Author(s):  
Ricardo Zaslavsky ◽  
Barbara Niegia Garcia de Goulart ◽  
Patricia Klarmann Ziegelmann
Keyword(s):  
Cohort Study ◽  
Prognostic Factors ◽  
Retrospective Cohort Study ◽  
Retrospective Cohort ◽  
Rank Test ◽  
Hiv Patients ◽  
Term Care ◽  
Risk Of Death ◽  
Cross Border ◽  
Significant Difference

Abstract: The act of crossing an international border for healthcare is a reality in border areas and the flow is in the direction of the city with more human and healthcare resources. Although several prognostic factors related to HIV+ patients are known, the prognostic value of this type of mobility for long term care is still neglected. This study compares the prognosis of HIV patients from three groups, one involved in regional mobility, another in cross-border mobility in search for healthcare and the reference group which is composed by patients living in the same city of the health facility. This is a retrospective cohort study using medical records from a healthcare service in Brazil. Following survival analysis with log-rank test and Cox proportional hazard models, overall survival had no significant difference between patients who were involved in regional (HR = 1.03; 95%CI: 0.69-1.54; p = 0.89) or international (HR = 1.07; 95%CI: 0.58-1.97; p = 0.83) mobility and those who were not. This lack of difference was kept when adjusted for known prognostic factors. In this retrospective cohort study, exposure to both regional and international migration did not have a significant association with the risk of death by any cause in crude or adjusted analyses for already known prognostic factors. This is the first study to consider the prognostic role of cross-border healthcare for HIV patients. Despite these findings, the need of monitoring the extent and the clinical and demographic characteristics of healthcare demand originated in the other side of the border and the use of these data for decision making in health management is emphasized.

Epidemiology of traumatic injuries presenting to an ED in Central Haiti: a retrospective cohort study

2019 ◽  
pp. emermed-2018-207559
Author(s):  
Shada A Rouhani ◽  
Henry Claude Eliacin ◽  
Marie Cassandre Edmond ◽  
Keegan A Checkett ◽  
Linda Rimpel ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Cohort Study ◽  
Low Income ◽  
Retrospective Cohort Study ◽  
Retrospective Cohort ◽  
Road Traffic ◽  
Low Income Countries ◽  
Trauma Patients ◽  
Traumatic Injuries ◽  
Orthopaedic Patients ◽  
Trauma Population

BackgroundIn Haiti, like many low-income countries, traumatic injuries are leading causes of morbidity and mortality. Yet, little is known about the epidemiology of traumatic injuries in Haitian EDs. Improved understanding of injury patterns is necessary to strengthen emergency services and improve emergency provider education.MethodsThis was a retrospective cohort study of trauma patients at an academic hospital in central Haiti over 6 months. Visits were identified from the electronic medical record, and paper charts were manually reviewed. Data, including demographics, timing of presentation, injuries sustained, treatments received and ED disposition were extracted using a standardised form and later analysed in SAS V.9.3.ResultsOf 1401 patients, 66% were male, and the average age was 26.8 years. Most visits were due to road traffic injuries (RTIs; 48%) followed by falls (22%). Trauma mechanism varied significantly by age (p<0.001): falls predominated in children under 5 years (56%) versus RTIs for adults (59%). Only 14% of patients injured on motorcycles used helmets and 30% of those injured in motor vehicles used seatbelts. Only 18% of patients arrived within 1 hour of the trauma. Skin or soft tissue injuries were the most common (58%), followed by extremity or pelvic fractures or dislocations (23%). Most patients (81%) were discharged, 14% were admitted or stayed over 24 hours in the ED and 0.8% died in the ED. Of the admitted patients, 61% had surgery, 79% of which were orthopaedic. Patients using helmets or seatbelts were more likely to be discharged than those not using protective equipment (p=0.008).ConclusionsIn this trauma population, RTIs and falls were the most common trauma mechanisms, safety feature use was rare, and most injuries were musculoskeletal. Presentation was delayed and mortality was low, but many patients required surgery. These findings have significant clinical, public health, operational and training implications.

scholarly journals Survival Analysis of Elderly Patients Over 65 Years Old With Stage Ii/iii Gastric Cancer Treated With Adjuvant Chemotherapy After Laparoscopic D2 Gastrectomy: a Retrospective Cohort Study

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Yanrui Liang ◽  
Liying Zhao ◽  
Hao Chen ◽  
Tian Lin ◽  
Tao Chen ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Gastric Cancer ◽  
Cohort Study ◽  
Adjuvant Chemotherapy ◽  
Elderly Patients ◽  
Retrospective Cohort Study ◽  
Retrospective Cohort ◽  
Stage Iii ◽  
Rank Test ◽  
D2 Gastrectomy ◽  
Log Rank Test

Abstract Background: The benefits of adjuvant chemotherapy for elderly patients (age >65) with gastric cancer (GC) remain unknown because elderly patients are underrepresented in most clinical trials. To evaluate the effectiveness and complications of adjuvant chemotherapy in elderly patients (>65 years of age) after laparoscopic D2 gastrectomy.Methods: This was a retrospective cohort study of elderly patients (>65 years) with stage II/III GC who underwent curative laparoscopic D2 gastrectomy between 2004 and 2018. The patients were divided as surgery alone and surgery plus adjuvant chemotherapy (chemo group). The overall survival (OS), disease-free survival (DFS), circulating tumor cells (CTCs), chemotherapy duration, and toxicity were examined. Results: There were 270 patients included: 169 and 101 in the surgery and chemo groups, respectively. There were ten (10/101) and six (6/101) patients with grade 3+ non-hematological and hematological adverse events. The 1-/3-/5-year OS rates of the surgery group were 72.9%/51.8%/48.3%, compared with 90.1%/66.4%/48.6% for the chemo group (log-rank test: P=0.018). For stage III patients, the 1-/3-/5-year OS rates of the surgery group were 83.7%/40.7%/28.7%, compared with 89.9%/61.2%/43.6% for the chemo group (log-rank test: P=0.015). Adjuvant chemotherapy was significantly associated with higher OS (HR=0.568, 95%CI: 0.357-0.903, P=0.017) and DFS (HR=0.511, 95%CI: 0.322-0.811, P=0.004) in stage III patients. CTC >0 had no significant impact on the benefits of adjuvant chemotherapy on OS and DFS.Conclusions: This study suggested that adjuvant chemotherapy significantly improves OS and DFS for elderly patients with stage III GC after D2 laparoscopic gastrectomy, with a tolerable adverse event profile.

Nonunion Rates in Hind- and Midfoot Arthrodesis in Current, Ex-, and Nonsmokers

2020 ◽  
pp. 107110072097126
Author(s):  
Jack Allport ◽  
Jayasree Ramaskandhan ◽  
Malik S. Siddique
Keyword(s):  
Risk Factor ◽  
Cohort Study ◽  
Relative Risk ◽  
Retrospective Cohort Study ◽  
Retrospective Cohort ◽  
Smoking Status ◽  
Time Frame ◽  
Modifiable Risk Factor ◽  
Level Of Evidence ◽  
Significant Difference

Background: Nonunion rates in hind or midfoot arthrodesis have been reported as high as 41%. The most notable and readily modifiable risk factor that has been identified is smoking. In 2018, 14.4% of the UK population were active smokers. We examined the effect of smoking status on union rates for a large cohort of patients undergoing hind- or midfoot arthrodesis. Methods: In total, 381 consecutive primary joint arthrodeses were identified from a single surgeon’s logbook (analysis performed on a per joint basis, with a triple fusion reported as 3 separate joints). Patients were divided based on self-reported smoking status. Primary outcome was clinical union. Delayed union, infection, and the need for ultrasound bone stimulation were secondary outcomes. Results: Smoking prevalence was 14.0%, and 32.2% were ex-smokers. Groups were comparable for sex, diabetes, and body mass index. Smokers were younger and had fewer comorbidities. Nonunion rates were higher in smokers (relative risk, 5.81; 95% CI, 2.54-13.29; P < .001) with no statistically significant difference between ex-smokers and nonsmokers. Smokers had higher rates of infection ( P = .05) and bone stimulator use ( P < .001). Among smokers, there was a trend toward slower union with heavier smoking ( P = .004). Conclusion: This large retrospective cohort study confirmed previous evidence that smoking has a considerable negative effect on union in arthrodesis. The 5.81 relative risk in a modifiable risk factor is extremely high. Arthrodesis surgery should be undertaken with extreme caution in smokers. Our study shows that after cessation of smoking, the risk returns to normal, but we were unable to quantify the time frame. Level of Evidence: Level III, retrospective cohort study.

scholarly journals 387. Markers for Mortality in COVID-19 Patients with Atrial Fibrillation or Flutter

2020 ◽  
Vol 7 (Supplement_1) ◽  
pp. S262-S262
Author(s):  
Kok Hoe Chan ◽  
Bhavik Patel ◽  
Iyad Farouji ◽  
Addi Suleiman ◽  
Jihad Slim
Keyword(s):  
Atrial Fibrillation ◽  
Logistic Regression ◽  
Cohort Study ◽  
Retrospective Cohort Study ◽  
Retrospective Cohort ◽  
Prognostic Markers ◽  
Univariate Analysis ◽  
Laboratory Data ◽  
Significant Difference ◽  
New Onset

Abstract Background Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) infection can lead to many different cardiovascular complications, we were interested in studying prognostic markers in patients with atrial fibrillation/flutter (A. Fib/Flutter). Methods A retrospective cohort study of patients with confirmed COVID-19 and either with existing or new onset A. Fib/Flutter who were admitted to our hospital between March 15 and May 20, 2020. Demographic, outcome and laboratory data were extracted from the electronic medical record and compared between survivors and non-survivors. Univariate and multivariate logistic regression were employed to identify the prognostic markers associated with mortality in patients with A. Fib/Flutter Results The total number of confirmed COVID-19 patients during the study period was 350; 37 of them had existing or new onset A. Fib/Flutter. Twenty one (57%) expired, and 16 (43%) were discharged alive. The median age was 72 years old, ranged from 19 to 100 years old. Comorbidities were present in 33 (89%) patients, with hypertension (82%) being the most common, followed by diabetes (46%) and coronary artery disease (30%). New onset of atrial fibrillation was identified in 23 patients (70%), of whom 13 (57%) expired; 29 patients (78%) presented with atrial fibrillation with rapid ventricular response, and 2 patients (5%) with atrial flutter. Mechanical ventilation was required for 8 patients, of whom 6 expired. In univariate analysis, we found a significant difference in baseline ferritin (p=0.04), LDH (p=0.02), neutrophil-lymphocyte ratio (NLR) (p=0.05), neutrophil-monocyte ratio (NMR) (p=0.03) and platelet (p=0.015) between survivors and non-survivors. With multivariable logistic regression analysis, the only value that had an odds of survival was a low NLR (odds ratio 0.74; 95% confidence interval 0.53–0.93). Conclusion This retrospective cohort study of hospitalized patients with COVID-19 demonstrated an association of increase NLR as risk factors for death in COVID-19 patients with A. Fib/Flutter. A high NLR has been associated with increased incidence, severity and risk for stroke in atrial fibrillation patients but to our knowledge, we are first to demonstrate the utilization in mortality predictions in COVID-19 patients with A. Fib/Flutter. Disclosures Jihad Slim, MD, Abbvie (Speaker’s Bureau)Gilead (Speaker’s Bureau)Jansen (Speaker’s Bureau)Merck (Speaker’s Bureau)ViiV (Speaker’s Bureau)

scholarly journals The change of coagulation profile in two-staged arthroplasty for periprosthetic joint infection patients: a retrospective cohort study

2021 ◽  
Vol 16 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Hao Li ◽  
Rui Li ◽  
L. L. Li ◽  
Wei Chai ◽  
Chi Xu ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Cohort Study ◽  
Periprosthetic Joint Infection ◽  
Retrospective Cohort Study ◽  
Persistent Infection ◽  
Retrospective Cohort ◽  
Joint Infection ◽  
Diagnostic Study ◽  
Level Of Evidence ◽  
Coagulation Profile ◽  
Significant Difference

Abstract Aims Periprosthetic joint infection (PJI) is a serious complication of total joint arthroplasty. We performed a retrospective cohort study to evaluate (1) the change of coagulation profile in two-staged arthroplasty patients and (2) the relationship between coagulation profile and the outcomes of reimplantation. Method Between January 2011 and December 2018, a total of 202 PJI patients who were operated on with two-staged arthroplasty were included in this study initially. This study continued for 2 years and the corresponding medical records were scrutinized to establish the diagnosis of PJI based on the 2014 MSIS criteria. The coagulation profile was recorded at two designed points, (1) preresection and (2) preimplantation. The difference of coagulation profile between preresection and preimplantation was evaluated. Receiver operating characteristic curves (ROC) were used to evaluate the diagnostic efficiency of the coagulation profile and change of coagulation profile for predicting persistent infection before reimplantation. Results The levels of APTT, INR, platelet count, PT, TT, and plasma fibrinogen before spacer implantation were significantly higher than before reimplantation. No significant difference was detected in the levels of D-dimer, ACT, and AT3 between the two groups. The AUC of the combined coagulation profile and the change of combined coagulation profile for predicting persistent infection before reimplantation was 0.667 (95% CI 0.511, 0.823) and 0.667 (95% CI 0.526, 0.808), respectively. Conclusion The coagulation profile before preresection is different from before preimplantation in two-staged arthroplasty and the coagulation markers may play a role in predicting infection eradication before reimplantation when two-stage arthroplasty is performed. Level of evidence Level III, diagnostic study.

scholarly journals Low BASDAI score alone is not a good predictor of anti-tumor necrosis factor treatment efficacy in ankylosing spondylitis: a retrospective cohort study

2021 ◽  
Vol 22 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Bora Nam ◽  
Bon San Koo ◽  
Tae-Han Lee ◽  
Ji-Hui Shin ◽  
Jin-Ju Kim ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Cohort Study ◽  
Ankylosing Spondylitis ◽  
Tumor Necrosis Factor ◽  
Disease Activity ◽  
Retrospective Cohort Study ◽  
Retrospective Cohort ◽  
Tumor Necrosis ◽  
Activity Index ◽  
Rank Test ◽  
Necrosis Factor

Abstract Background The purpose of this study was to determine the prevalence of high disease activity as measured using the Ankylosing Spondylitis Disease Activity Score (ASDAS) in ankylosing spondylitis (AS) patients who nonetheless have low Bath Ankylosing Spondylitis Disease Activity Index (BASDAI) scores after anti-tumor necrosis factor (TNF) treatment. Its clinical impact on anti-TNF survival was also investigated. Methods We conducted a single-centre retrospective cohort study of AS patients having low BASDAI scores (< 4) and available ASDAS-C-reactive protein (CRP) data after 3 months of first-line anti-TNF treatment. Patients were grouped into high-ASDAS (≥ 2.1) and low-ASDAS (< 2.1) groups according to the ASDAS-CRP after 3 months of anti-TNF treatment. Their characteristics were compared. And survival analyses were carried out using Kaplan–Meier curves and log-rank test with the event being discontinuation of anti-TNF treatment due to lack/loss of efficacy. Results Among 116 AS patients with low BASDAI scores after 3 months of anti-TNF treatment, 38.8% were grouped into the high-ASDAS group. The high-ASDAS group tended to have greater disease activity after 9 months of treatment (BASDAI 2.9 ± 1.1 vs. 2.3 ± 1.4, p=0.007; ASDAS-CRP 1.8 ± 0.6 vs. 1.5 ± 0.7, p=0.079; proportion of high ASDAS-CRP 27.8% vs. 13.8%, p=0.094) and greater risk of discontinuing anti-TNF treatment due to lack/loss of efficacy than the low-ASDAS group (p=0.011). Conclusions A relatively high proportion of AS patients with low BASDAI scores had high ASDAS-CRP. These low-BASDAI/high-ASDAS-CRP patients also had a greater risk for discontinuation of anti-TNF treatment due to low/lack of efficacy than the low-ASDAS group. The use of the ASDAS-CRP alone or in addition to the BASDAI may improve the assessment of AS patients treated with anti-TNF agents.

scholarly journals Survival analysis of elderly patients over 65 years old with stage II/III gastric cancer treated with adjuvant chemotherapy after laparoscopic D2 gastrectomy: a retrospective cohort study

BMC Cancer ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 21 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Yanrui Liang ◽  
Liying Zhao ◽  
Hao Chen ◽  
Tian Lin ◽  
Tao Chen ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Gastric Cancer ◽  
Cohort Study ◽  
Adjuvant Chemotherapy ◽  
Elderly Patients ◽  
Retrospective Cohort ◽  
Stage Iii ◽  
Rank Test ◽  
Oral Capecitabine ◽  
D2 Gastrectomy ◽  
Log Rank Test

Abstract Background The benefits of adjuvant chemotherapy for elderly patients with gastric cancer (GC) remain unknown because elderly patients are underrepresented in most clinical trials. This study aimed to evaluate the effectiveness and complications of adjuvant chemotherapy in patients > 65 years of age after laparoscopic D2 gastrectomy. Methods This was a single-center retrospective cohort study of elderly patients (> 65 years) with stage II/III GC who underwent curative laparoscopic D2 gastrectomy with R0 resection between 2004 and 2018. The adjuvant chemotherapy regimens included monotherapy (oral capecitabine) and doublet chemotherapy (oral capecitabine plus intravenous oxaliplatin [XELOX] or intravenous oxaliplatin, leucovorin, and 5-fluorouracil [FOLFOX]). The data were retrieved from a prospectively registered database maintained at the Department of General Surgery in Nanfang Hospital, China. The patients were divided as surgery alone and surgery plus adjuvant chemotherapy (chemo group). The overall survival (OS), disease-free survival (DFS), chemotherapy duration, and toxicity were examined. Results There were 270 patients included: 169 and 101 in the surgery and chemo groups, respectively. There were 10 (10/101) and six (6/101) patients with grade 3+ non-hematological and hematological adverse events. The 1−/3−/5-year OS rates of the surgery group were 72.9%/51.8%/48.3%, compared with 90.1%/66.4%/48.6% for the chemo group (log-rank test: P = 0.018). For stage III patients, the 1−/3−/5-year OS rates of the surgery group were 83.7%/40.7%/28.7%, compared with 89.9%/61.2%/43.6% for the chemo group (log-rank test: P = 0.015). Adjuvant chemotherapy was significantly associated with higher OS (HR = 0.568, 95%CI: 0.357–0.903, P = 0.017) and DFS (HR = 0.511, 95%CI: 0.322–0.811, P = 0.004) in stage III patients. Conclusions This study suggested that adjuvant chemotherapy significantly improves OS and DFS compared with surgery alone in elderly patients with stage III GC after D2 laparoscopic gastrectomy, with a tolerable adverse event profile.

scholarly journals Determinants of Mortality among HIV Positives after Initiating Antiretroviral Therapy in Western Ethiopia: A Hospital-Based Retrospective Cohort Study

ISRN AIDS ◽  
2013 ◽  
Vol 2013 ◽  
pp. 1-7 ◽  
Author(s):  
Mitiku Teshome Hambisa ◽  
Ahmed Ali ◽  
Yadeta Dessie
Keyword(s):  
Cohort Study ◽  
Retrospective Cohort Study ◽  
Retrospective Cohort ◽  
Incidence Density ◽  
Rank Test ◽  
Time To Death ◽  
Art Initiation ◽  
Mortality Incidence ◽  
Cox Proportional Hazard Regression ◽  
Western Ethiopia

Studies revealed that there are various determinants of mortality among HIV positives after ART initiation. These determinants are so variable with context and dynamic across time with the advancement of cares and treatments. In this study we tried to identify determinants of mortality among HIV positives after initiating ART. A retrospective cohort study was conducted among 416 ART attendees enrolled between July 2005 to January 2012 in Nekemte Referral Hospital, Western Ethiopia. Actuarial table was used to estimate survival of patients after ART initiation and log rank test was used to compare the survival curves. Cox proportional-hazard regression was applied to determine the independent determinants of time to death. The estimated mortality was 4%, 5%, 6%, 7%, and 7% at 6, 12, 24, 36 and 48 months respectively with mortality incidence density of 1.89 deaths per 100 person years (95% CI 1.74, 3.62). Forty years and above AHR = 3.055 (95% CI 1.292, 7.223), low baseline hemoglobin level (AHR = 0.523 (95% CI .335, 0.816)), and poor ART adherence (AHR 27.848 (95% CI 8.928, 86.8)) were found to be an independent determinants of mortality. These determinants of mortality have to be taken into account to enhance better clinical outcomes of ART attendees.

scholarly journals Community-acquired bacteraemia in COVID-19 in comparison to influenza A and influenza B: a retrospective cohort study

2021 ◽  
Vol 21 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Julinha M. Thelen ◽  
A. G. ( Noud) Buenen ◽  
Marjan van Apeldoorn ◽  
Heiman F. Wertheim ◽  
Mirjam H. A. Hermans ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Cohort Study ◽  
Blood Culture ◽  
The Netherlands ◽  
Retrospective Cohort Study ◽  
Retrospective Cohort ◽  
Influenza A ◽  
Blood Cultures ◽  
Influenza B ◽  
Significant Difference ◽  
All Cause Mortality

Abstract Background During the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic in the Netherlands it was noticed that very few blood cultures from COVID-19 patients turned positive with clinically relevant bacteria. This was particularly evident in comparison to the number of positive blood cultures during previous seasonal epidemics of influenza. This observation raised questions about the occurrence and causative microorganisms of bacteraemia in COVID-19 patients, especially in the perspective of the widely reported overuse of antibiotics and the rising rate of antibiotic resistance. Methods We conducted a retrospective cohort study on blood culture results in influenza A, influenza B and COVID-19 patients presenting to two hospitals in the Netherlands. Our main outcome consisted of the percentage of positive blood cultures. The percentage of clinically relevant blood cultures, isolated bacteria and 30-day all-cause mortality served as our secondary outcomes. Results A total of 1331 viral episodes were analysed in 1324 patients. There was no statistically significant difference (p = 0.47) in overall occurrence of blood culture positivity in COVID-19 patients (9.0, 95% CI 6.8–11.1) in comparison to influenza A (11.4, 95% CI 7.9–14.8) and influenza B patients (10.4, 95% CI 7.1–13.7,). After correcting for the high rate of contamination, the occurrence of clinically relevant bacteraemia in COVID-19 patients amounted to 1.0% (95% CI 0.3–1.8), which was statistically significantly lower (p = 0.04) compared to influenza A patients (4.0, 95% CI 1.9–6.1) and influenza B patients (3.0, 95% CI 1.2–4.9). The most frequently identified bacterial isolates in COVID-19 patients were Escherichia coli (n = 2) and Streptococcus pneumoniae (n = 2). The overall 30-day all-cause mortality for COVID-19 patients was 28.3% (95% CI 24.9–31.7), which was statistically significantly higher (p = <.001) when compared to patients with influenza A (7.1, 95% CI 4.3–9.9) and patients with influenza B (6.4, 95% CI 3.8–9.1). Conclusions We report a very low occurrence of community-acquired bacteraemia amongst COVID-19 patients in comparison to influenza patients. These results reinforce current clinical guidelines on antibiotic management in COVID-19, which only advise utilization of antibiotics when a bacterial co-infection is suspected.

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