An Observational Study to Determine the Prevalence of COVID-19 Among Hospitalized Patients With Multidrug-Resistant Enterobacterales Infections and Clinical Outcomes, 10 US Sites, 2020--2022

Background: We investigated hospitalized carbapenem-resistant Enterobacterales (CRE) and extended-spectrum β-lactamase-producing Enterobacterales (ESBL-E) cases with and without COVID-19, as identified through Emerging Infections Program surveillance in 10 sites from 2020 to 2022.

Methods: We defined a CRE case as the first isolation of Escherichia coli, Enterobacter cloacae complex, Klebsiella aerogenes, K oxytoca, K pneumoniae, or K variicola resistant to any carbapenem. We defined an ESBL-E case as the first isolation of E coli, K pneumoniae, or K oxytoca resistant to any third-generation cephalosporin and nonresistant to all carbapenems tested. Specimens were drawn from a normally sterile site or urine among hospitalized residents of the surveillance area in a 30-day period. We defined COVID-19 as a positive SARS-CoV-2 test result (SC2⁺) within 14 days before CRE or ESBL-E specimen collection and performed multivariable logistic regression analyses.

Results: Of 1595 CRE and 1866 ESBL-E hospitalized cases, 38 (2.4%) and 60 (3.2%), respectively, had a SC2⁺. Among these cases, a SC2⁺ was associated with intensive care unit admission (adjusted odds ratio [aOR], 1.69 [95% CI, 1.14-2.50]; aOR, 1.48 [95% CI, 1.03-2.12]) and 30-day mortality (aOR, 1.79 [95% CI, 1.22-2.64]; aOR, 1.94 [95% CI, 1.39-2.70]).

Conclusions: CRE and ESBL-E infections among hospitalized patients with preceding COVID-19 were uncommon but had worse outcomes when compared with cases without COVID-19. COVID-19 prevention in patients at risk of CRE and ESBL-E infections is needed, as well as continued infection control measures and antibiotic stewardship for patients with COVID-19.