<i>Acinetobacter baumannii</i>, antibiotic resistance, SARS-CoV-2.

Abstract

Aims: 2020 was marked by the emergence of SARS-CoV-2. The dramatic growth of hospitalized patients infected by SARS-CoV-2 may have led to an increase in secondary infections and/or healthcare-associated infections. It is evident that the need for high-spectrum antibiotic therapy in patients with severe illness contributed to the spread of Multi Drug Resistant (MDR) bacteria. The aim of this work was to evaluate the trend of Acinetobacter baumannii infections during the SARS-CoV-2 pandemic in Santi Antonio e Biagio and Cesare Arrigo Hospital in Alessandria. Materials and Methods: all the isolates of A. baumannii and positive swabs for SARS-CoV-2 detected in hospitalized patients were included in the analysis. Results: between November 2020 and March 2021, an increase of the A. baumannii isolation occurred compared to the period November 2019 - March 2020, especially in the Intensive Care Units. A reduction of the A. baumannii isolation from November 2021 to March 2022 was observed. Conclusions: the differences observed are probably due to the administration of vaccines and consequently to the lower severity of COVID-19 cliniacl pictures.