LAUSR

INTRODUCTION: Bacterial co-pathogens are commonly identified in viral respiratory infections and are an important cause of morbidity and mortality The prevalence of bacterial infection in patients infected with SARS-CoV-2 is not well understood Most fatalities in the 1918 Influenza outbreak were due to subsequent bacterial infection, particularly with Streptococcus Pneumonia Poor outcomes in the 2009 H1N1 Influenza pandemic were also associated with bacteria coinfections, although few studies captured these data So we looked at the prevalence of co-infections (at presentations) and secondary infections (after presentation)among COVID-19 patients admitted to our intensive care unit METHODS: We analysed the data of prevalence of co-infections and super infections among COVID-19 patients admitted to the intensive care unit over a period of 6 weeks (18th of March to 29th of Aprill 2020) Data related to demographic parameters, date of 1st positive microbiology,type and source of micro-organisms were analysed RESULTS: The data analysis revealed that 27 out of 60 (45%) COVID-19 patients had co-infections and 12 out of 27 (44 4%)of them were identified in the 1st week of ICU admission These were predominantly bacterial infections (93 1%) Two of them were fungal (Aspergillus) and one of them was viral (Influenza A) infections 70 3% of positive micro-organisms were identified from positive sputum cultures and 10 3% from blood culture and the remaining were from nose (Influenza A) and urine (K Pneumonia and E coli) 12 out of the 27 patients had also developed secondary bacterial infection with a different micro-organisms Overall mortality was 36 6% and the mortality among patients with co-infection was found to be 34 4% CONCLUSIONS: Bacterial co-infections were common among COVID-19 patients admitted to our intensive care unit Majority of them were identified within the 1st week of their ICU stay