Pandemic-driven transmission-based prevention as an observational scenario for Multidrug-resistant Organisms.

Authors

Dr Chiara Peconi, Gilda Pelusi, Donatella Sarti, Beatrice Gasperini, Dr Annamaria Frascati, Dr Katiuscia Di Biagio, Prof Emilia Prospero

Published in

Journal of global antimicrobial resistance. Jul 08, 2026. Epub Jul 08, 2026.

Abstract

The COVID-19 pandemic was associated with changes in infection prevention and control (IPC) measures and antimicrobial resistance epidemiology across healthcare settings.
We conducted a retrospective observational study assessing multidrug-resistant organism (MDRO) in an Italian community hospital. The facility provides intermediate care, defined as a range of services aimed at facilitating the transition from hospital to home or long-term care. We compared the proportion of patients with infection-positive clinical cultures and MDRO-positive clinical cultures across three periods: pre-COVID-19 (January 2019-January 2020), COVID-19 (February 2020-March 2021) and post-COVID-19 (April 2021-December 2023), defined according to the evolution of the disease in the Marche Region. Comparisons were performed using chi-square/Fisher exact tests and multivariable logistic regression.
903 patients were included in the study; 51% had infection-positive clinical cultures and 30% had an MDRO-positive culture. All cultures were obtained from clinical specimens collected for diagnostic purposes; no surveillance screening cultures were performed. The proportion of patients with MDRO-positive cultures differed significantly across periods and was lowest during the COVID-19 period (p=0.013), as confirmed in the multivariable analysis (p=0.004). Urinary catheter and pressure sores were associated with increased odds of MDRO-positive clinical cultures.
In this cohort, the proportion of patients with MDRO-positive clinical cultures was lower during the COVID-19 period than in the post-COVID-19 period. Urinary catheter and pressure sores were independently associated with MDRO-positive clinical culture detection. This finding may reflect multiple concurrent factors, including changes in IPC practices and bed occupancy and highlight the need for continuous IPC improvements.

PMID:
42419645
Bibliographic data and abstract were imported from PubMed on 09 Jul 2026.

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