Evidence map›Paper›PMID 36624396›Full record

SynthesisBMC infectious diseases2023

Bacterial co-infection and antibiotic stewardship in patients with COVID-19: a systematic review and meta-analysis.

Maria Calderon, Grace Gysin, Akash Gujjar, Ashleigh McMaster, Lisa King, Daniel Comandé, Ewan Hunter, Brendan Payne

Open access · goldAbstract readMeta-AnalysisSystematic Review
In one paragraph

Synthesis in BMC infectious diseases, 2023. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 32 papers.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
32citing papers in PubMed
8.4field-weighted citation impact, top 1% of its field
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

32 citing papers in PubMed, 46 citations in OpenAlex.

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  19. Global trends in antibiotic consumption during 2016-2023 and future projections through 2030.Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America · 2024
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4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

8 authors at 4 institutions in 2 countries.

Maria CalderonDepartment of Infection and Tropical Medicine, Newcastle-Upon-Tyne Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, Royal Victoria Infirmary, Queen Victoria Rd., Newcastle-Upon-Tyne, NE1 4LP, UK. maria.calderon@nhs.net.
Grace GysinTranslational and Clinical Research Institute, Newcastle University, Newcastle-Upon-Tyne, NE1 7RU, UK.
Akash GujjarSchool of Medicine, Newcastle University, Newcastle-Upon-Tyne, UK.
Ashleigh McMasterDepartment of Infection and Tropical Medicine, Newcastle-Upon-Tyne Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, Royal Victoria Infirmary, Queen Victoria Rd., Newcastle-Upon-Tyne, NE1 4LP, UK.
Lisa KingSchool of Medicine, Newcastle University, Newcastle-Upon-Tyne, UK.
Daniel ComandéInstituto de Efectividad Clinica y Sanitaria, Emilio Ravignani 2024 (C1414CPV), Buenos Aires, Argentina.
Ewan HunterDepartment of Infection and Tropical Medicine, Newcastle-Upon-Tyne Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, Royal Victoria Infirmary, Queen Victoria Rd., Newcastle-Upon-Tyne, NE1 4LP, UK.
Brendan PayneDepartment of Infection and Tropical Medicine, Newcastle-Upon-Tyne Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, Royal Victoria Infirmary, Queen Victoria Rd., Newcastle-Upon-Tyne, NE1 4LP, UK.
Newcastle University · GBRoyal Victoria Infirmary · GBInstituto de Efectividad Clínica y Sanitaria · ARNewcastle upon Tyne Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust · GB

Funding

Wellcome Trust
6 · The paper itself

Abstract

introductionUnderstanding the proportion of patients with COVID-19 who have respiratory bacterial co-infections and the responsible pathogens is important for managing COVID-19 effectively while ensuring responsible antibiotic use.

objectiveTo estimate the frequency of bacterial co-infection in COVID-19 hospitalized patients and of antibiotic prescribing during the early pandemic period and to appraise the use of antibiotic stewardship criteria.

methodsSystematic review and meta-analysis was performed using major databases up to May 5, 2021. We included studies that reported proportion/prevalence of bacterial co-infection in hospitalized COVID-19 patients and use of antibiotics. Where available, data on duration and type of antibiotics, adverse events, and any information about antibiotic stewardship policies were also collected.

resultsWe retrieved 6,798 studies and included 85 studies with data from more than 30,000 patients. The overall prevalence of bacterial co-infection was 11% (95% CI 8% to 16%; 70 studies). When only confirmed bacterial co-infections were included the prevalence was 4% (95% CI 3% to 6%; 20 studies). Overall antibiotic use was 60% (95% CI 52% to 68%; 52 studies). Empirical antibiotic use rate was 62% (95% CI 55% to 69%; 11 studies). Few studies described criteria for stopping antibiotics.

conclusionThere is currently insufficient evidence to support widespread empirical use of antibiotics in most hospitalised patients with COVID-19, as the overall proportion of bacterial co-infection is low. Furthermore, as the use of antibiotics during the study period appears to have been largely empirical, clinical guidelines to promote and support more targeted administration of antibiotics in patients admitted to hospital with COVID-19 are required.

Indexed as

Antimicrobial StewardshipBacterial InfectionsCoinfectionCOVID-19Respiratory Tract InfectionsAnti-Bacterial AgentsBacteriaHumansAnti-Bacterial AgentsAntibiotic stewardshipBacterial co-infectionCOVID-19

Identifiers

PMID36624396
PMCPMC9828368
OpenAlexW4313889148

What OpenQuestion holds

Textmetadata
LicenceCC BY
Read underepoch 390

Registered trials

None linked

Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.