MDRO transmission in acute hospitals during the COVID-19 pandemic

Louisa Sun Jin, Dale Fisher

2021Current Opinion in Infectious Diseases27 citationsDOI

Abstract

PURPOSE OF REVIEW: The coronavirus disease (COVID-19) pandemic has resulted in necessary modifications of infection control policies and practices in acute healthcare facilities globally. This is often accompanied by infrastructure modifications, ward redesignations, as well as healthcare staff redeployments and changes to infection prevention and control (IPC) practices. We review the potential for both negative and positive impacts these major changes can have on nosocomial transmission of multidrug-resistant organisms (MDROs). RECENT FINDINGS: Healthcare facilities around the world have reported outbreaks of MDROs during the COVID-19 pandemic. In contrast some centres have reported a decrease in baseline rates due to a number of possible factors. SUMMARY: While implementing crucial preventive measures for COVID-19, is it important to consider any collateral effects of changes in IPC and antimicrobial stewardship program (ASP) practices. The disruption caused to IPC and ASP practices during the pandemic are likely to see a counter intuitive increase in transmission of MDROs.

Topics & Concepts

PandemicMedicineInfection controlTransmission (telecommunications)Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19)OutbreakHealth careSevere acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2)Intensive care medicineCollateral damageAntimicrobial stewardshipMedical emergencyEnvironmental healthDiseaseVirologyInfectious disease (medical specialty)Antibiotic resistanceEconomic growthInternal medicineAntibioticsMicrobiologyCriminologyBiologySociologyEngineeringEconomicsElectrical engineeringInfection Control in HealthcareAntibiotic Use and ResistanceInfection Control and Ventilation