How Necessary Is Empirical Antibiotic Therapy in COVID-19 Patients before ICU infections develop? An Observational Study

Authors : Sirin MENEKSE, Secil DENİZ

Pages : 541-549

Doi:10.5798/dicletip.1220682

View : 11 | Download : 8

Publication Date : 2022-12-19

Article Type : Research Paper

Abstract :Introduction: There have been few studies reporting empirical antibiotic use in Covid-19 patients, particularly in those admitted to the intensive care unit insert ignore into journalissuearticles values(ICU);. This study evaluated empirical antibiotic use in patients admitted to the ICU with Covid-19 Methods: This two-center retrospective study included 79 consecutive patients who were admitted to the ICU due to Covid-19 infection between October 1 and December 31, 2020, and received empirical antibiotics. The patients were classified into two groups: those who developed ICU infections after 48 hours of ICU admission despite empirical antibiotic therapy insert ignore into journalissuearticles values(Group 1);, and those who received empirical antibiotic therapy during the ICU stay, but were free of ICU infections insert ignore into journalissuearticles values(Group 2);. Results: In Group 1, 37 patients insert ignore into journalissuearticles values(46.8%); developed ICU infections after a median of 12 days insert ignore into journalissuearticles values(IQR 5.5-15.5); of ICU stay. The cumulative antibiotic use until the detection ICU infections was 395 antibiotic days corresponding to 1070 DOTs/1000 hospital days. The median antibiotic use was 9 days insert ignore into journalissuearticles values(IQR 4-15.5);. In Group 2, 42 patients insert ignore into journalissuearticles values(53.2%); received empirical antibiotic therapy for a median of 5 ICU days insert ignore into journalissuearticles values(IQR 3-8.3); and for a total of 256 antibiotic days insert ignore into journalissuearticles values(1051 DOTs/1000 hospital days);. Twenty–three patients received empirical antibiotic therapy during the entire ICU stay. The median ICU stay was 6.5 days insert ignore into journalissuearticles values(IQR 4-10); and the median antibiotic use was 5 days insert ignore into journalissuearticles values(IQR 3-8.2);. Discussion and Conclusion: Our findings are alarming and raise doubt about the potential role of antibiotics in the initial therapy of Covid-19 patients at the time of ICU admission and suggest the need to narrow or tailor antibiotic use based on clear laboratory and radiologic indications.
Keywords : SARS CoV 2, empirical antibiotic use, Intensive Care Unit infections