@article{article_1222179, title={Evaluation of Species Distribution and Antibiotic Susceptibility of Blood Culture Isolates of Patients Followed in the Intensive Care Unit Before and During the COVID-19 Pandemic: Retrospective, Single-Center Analysis}, journal={Phoenix Medical Journal}, volume={5}, pages={71–77}, year={2023}, DOI={10.38175/phnx.1222179}, author={Arslan, Kadir and Şahin, Ayça Sultan}, keywords={Antibiotic sensitivity, COVID-19, blood culture, intensive care unit}, abstract={Objective: This study aims to identify the microorganism species isolated from blood cultures of patients hospitalized in the ICU of a tertiary center before and during the COVID-19 pandemic and to investigate their antibiotic susceptibility. Material and Method: Patients hospitalized in the ICU two years before and after the COVID-19 pandemic between March 15, 2019, and March 15, 2021, were divided into two groups, and their blood cultures were evaluated retrospectively. Isolated microorganisms and their antibiotic susceptibility were analyzed. Results: A total of 1282 patients’ blood cultures were analyzed, and demographic data were similar between groups. Blood culture growth was detected in 39.6% (n=202) of the patients in the pre-pandemic period and 41% (n=317) in the pandemic period. Gram-positive bacteria were isolated in 71.3%, gram-negative bacteria in 21.6%, and Candida spp. in 7.1% of the population. Klebsiella spp. was significantly higher, and Enterococcus spp. was significantly lower in blood cultures during the pandemic. In the COVID-19 period, although not significant, a decrease in antibiotic susceptibility was detected for Staphylococcus aureus, Klebsiella spp., E.coli, Enterobacter spp., and Pseudomonas spp. There was a statistically significant decrease in susceptibility to teicoplanin and linezolid in coagulase-negative staphylococci (CNS). During the pandemic, 57.6% (n=172) of the patients were positive for COVID-19. In COVID-19-positive patients, while Candida spp. was significantly higher, no decrease in antifungal susceptibility was detected. Conclusion: The severe COVID-19 infection in immunocompromised patients may have led to a significant increase in secondary infections, contributing to the increase in Klebsiella strains isolated from patients in the pandemic period and the reduction in antimicrobial susceptibility. The decrease in cross-contamination in these patients, who were followed up in isolated rooms in our ICU, was influential in the significantly lower detection of Enterococcus strains. High-dose steroids in the treatment effectively increased the number of isolated Candida strains.}, number={2}, publisher={İbrahim İKİZCELİ}, organization={Yoktur.}