Empiric Antibacterial Therapy and Community-onset Bacterial Co-infection in Patients Hospitalized with COVID-19: A Multi-Hospital Cohort Study

28 August 2020

Antibacterials may be initiated out of concern for bacterial co-infection in patients with COVID-19. The authors determined prevalence and predictors of empiric antibacterial therapy and community-onset bacterial co-infections in hospitalized patients with COVID-19.

The prevalence of confirmed community-onset bacterial co-infections was low. Despite this, half of patients received early empiric antibacterial therapy. Antibacterial use varied widely by hospital. Reducing COVID-19 test turnaround time and supporting stewardship could improve antibacterial use.

Further reading: Clinical Infectious Diseases

Author(s): Valerie M Vaughn, MD, MSc, Tejal Gandhi, MD, Lindsay A Petty, MD, Payal K Patel, MD, MPH, Hallie C Prescott, MD, MSc, Anurag N Malani, MD, David Ratz, MS, Elizabeth McLaughlin, MS, RN, Vineet Chopra, MD, MSc, Scott A Flanders, MD

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