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Vol. 56 No. 3 (2020)
Original Articles
2020-09-11
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Bacterial coinfections in COVID-19: an underestimated adversary

Authors

Lanfranco Fattorini , Roberta Creti , Carla Palma , Annalisa Pantosti

Keywords: COVID-19, bacterial coinfections, superinfections, antibiotics, therapy, intensive care unit

Abstract

Current literature shows that secondary bacterial infections, although less frequent than in previous influenza pandemics, affect COVID-19 patients. Mycoplasma pneumoniae, Staphylococcus aureus, Legionella pneumophila, Streptococcus pneumoniae, Haemophilus and Klebsiella spp. are the main species isolated. Of note, Mycobacterium tuberculosis-COVID-19 coinfections are also reported. However, bacterial coinfection rates increase in patients admitted in the intensive care units, and those diseases can be due to super-infections by nosocomial antibiotic-resistant bacteria. This highlights the urgency to revise frequent and empiric prescription of broad-spectrum antibiotics in COVID-19 patients, with more attention to evidence-based studies and respect for the antimicrobial stewardship principles.

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Authors

Lanfranco Fattorini - ISS, Rome, Italy

Roberta Creti - ISS, Rome

Carla Palma - ISS, Rome

Annalisa Pantosti - ISS, Rome

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How to Cite
Fattorini, L., Creti, R., Palma, C., & Pantosti, A. (2020). Bacterial coinfections in COVID-19: an underestimated adversary. Annali dell’Istituto Superiore Di Sanità, 56(3), 359–364. Retrieved from https://annali.iss.it/index.php/anna/article/view/1116
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