A Retrospective Study of Critical Resistant Bacteria in Rectal Swab Samples of COVID-19 and Non-COVID-19 Patients

Aim: Vancomycin-resistant enterococci (VRE) and carbapenem-resistant Gram-negative Bacilli (CRGNB) cause serious hospital-acquired infections. In our study, we aimed to investigate the prevalence and duration of colonization of these agents in patients with and without COVID-19.Material and Methods: Rectal swabs of all patients hospitalized in the Intensive Care Unit (ICU) between June 2019 and December 2022 were retrospectively examined for the presence of VRE and CRGNB.Results: Of 186 non-COVID-19 patients, VRE was detected in 37 (19.9%), and CR Klebsiella pneumoniae in one (0.5%), while no agent was found in 148 patients (79.6%). However, of 250 COVID-19 patients, VRE and CRGNB were detected together in 47 (18.8%), while VRE was positive in 32 (12.8%) and CRGNB was positive in 87 (34.8%) (p<0.05). In patients without COVID-19, VRE and CRGNB colonization times were determined as 10.5±2.11 std and 7 ± 0 std days, respectively. In COVID-19 patients, VRE colonization time was 17.05±3.50 std days and CRGNB colonization time was 13.72±3.01 days, and the time to negativity after colonization was determined as 12.26±1.52 days and 14.45±2.57 days, respectively. While the colonization time detected in COVID-19 patients was found to be significantly increased for VRE compared to those without COVID-19 patients (p=0.0002).Conclusion: The higher rate and longer duration time of VRE and CRGNB colonization generally in patients with COVID-19 compared to those without COVID-19 suggests that this patient group should be closely monitored for possible resistant infections.