Impact of COVID-19 in the incidence of hospital-acquired infections in patients treated in ICU: a systematic review

Abstract

Background: Critically ill patients are susceptible to hospital-acquired infections (HAI) due to invasive procedures and medical devices, leading to significant morbidity and mortality. The COVID-19 pandemic has further complicated this issue. This systematic review aimed to compare the incidence of bloodstream infections (BSI) and ventilator-associated pneumonia (VAP) in critically ill COVID-19 and non-COVID-19 patients and to compare it during and before the pandemic. Materials and Methods: A systematic search was conducted on PubMed, Scopus, and Web of Science for articles published from 1 January 2020 to 19 February 2023. Sixteen studies met the inclusion criteria, and their relevant data were extracted and analyzed. Results: The analysis revealed a significantly higher incidence of BSI and VAP in COVID-19 patients compared to non-COVID-19 patients in all studies except one. However, there was no significant difference between the pre-pandemic and pandemic periods concerning the incidence of BSI and VAP. Conclusion: Critically ill COVID-19 patients are at a higher risk of developing BSI and VAP than non-COVID-19 patients. The findings of our pre-pandemic and pandemic analyses were inconclusive. This systematic review highlights the significance of infection prevention and control measures to reduce the burden of HAI in ICU patients.