Open AccessEffect of Caring of Critically Sick Patients with COVID-19 Pneumonia at Undesignated ICU Wards on Secondary Infections
Author(s) -
Nadeem Rashid,
Elzeiny Moatz Galal Mohamed Ali,
Elsousi Ahmed Nazir,
Elhoufi Ashraf,
Saad Reham Helmy Amin,
Kumar Kishore,
Kamat Sahish,
Bon Islam,
Mehmood Akhter,
Basheer Irshad
Publication year - 2022
Publication title -
dubai medical journal
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
ISSN - 2571-726X
DOI - 10.1159/000521221
Subject(s) - educational corner – research article
COVID-19 has caused high rates of mortality. During pandemic peak, a significant number of patients were admitted to undesignated ICU areas before transferring to designated ICU, owing to unavailability of ICU beds. We aimed to record the effect of care of critically sick patients with COVID-19 on prevalence of secondary bacterial infection. Methods: We retrospectively studied all critically ill patients with COVID-19 pneumonia meeting ICU admission criteria who were admitted to Dubai hospital between January 1, 2020, and June 30, 2020. All the patients who transferred to wards other than designated ICU constitute category as cases. All patients who directly admitted to the designated ICU ward from emergency department constitute controls. The demographics, clinical parameters, and treatment profile of these patients were recorded and compared. Prevalence of secondary bacterial infection was calculated. Results: Patients with COVID-19 had high prevalence of secondary bacterial infection. Patients who stayed at undesignated ICU wards had higher occurrence of inpatient fever, hypoxemia, and they were more likely to be sedated and paralyzed than patients who stayed in designated ICU wards. Multiple logistic regression analysis showed care outside designated ICU ward does not predict increase in secondary nonviral microbial infections. Conclusion: Care of patients at undesignated ICU wards prior to admission to designated ICU does not impact prevalence of secondary bacterial infection.