The Assessment of Multiplex PCR in Identifying Bacterial Infections in Patients Hospitalized with SARS-CoV-2 Infection: A Systematic Review

Abstract

Bacterial infection can occur in patients hospitalized with SARS-CoV-2 in various conditions, resulting in poorer outcomes, such as a higher death rate. This current systematic review was conducted in order to assess the efficiency of multiplex PCR in detecting bacterial infections in hospitalized COVID-19 patients, as well as to analyze the most common bacterial pathogens and other factors that interfere with this diagnosis. The research was conducted using four electronic databases (PubMed, Taylor&Francis, Web of Science, and Wiley Online Library). Out of 290 studies, nine were included in the systematic review. The results supported the use of multiplex PCR in detecting bacteria, considering its high sensitivity and specificity rates. The most common bacterial pathogens found were Klebsiella pneumoniae, Staphylococcus aureus, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Streptococcus pneumoniae, and Haemophilus influenzae. The median age at admission was 61.5 years, and the majority of patients were men (70.3%), out of a total of 1553 patients. The proportion of ICU admission was very high, with a pooled proportion of 52.6% over the analyzed studies, and an average duration of hospitalization of 13 days. The mortality rate was proportionally high, as was the rate of ICU admission, with a pooled mortality of 24.9%. It was discovered that 65.2% of all patients used antibiotics before admission, with or without medical prescription. Antibiotic treatment should be considered consciously, considering the high risks of developing antibiotic resistance.

Fungal Infections Identified with Multiplex PCR in Severe COVID-19 Patients during Six Pandemic Waves

“…This resistance was not only to one drug but, in some cases, two or more, indicating an alarming trend. Our results emphasize the importance of accurate and efficient diagnosis of co-infections through methods such as mPCR, which has proven to be a quicker and more accurate method of diagnosis [ 27 ]. Such methods can guide the selection of the most effective treatments and avoid the unnecessary use of antibiotics.…”

“…Multiplex polymerase chain reaction (PCR) has been acknowledged as a promising tool for the swift detection of fungal pathogens [ 25 ]. By enabling the simultaneous detection of multiple pathogens, multiplex PCR offers a potential solution to the issue of timely and accurate fungal identification [ 26 , 27 ]. Compared with other methods, multiplex PCR is more rapid, sensitive, and cost-effective and can provide a comprehensive view of the pathogens present in a sample [ 28 ].…”

Increase in antibiotic resistance in diabetic foot infections among peruvian patients: a single-center cross-sectional study

“…Another contemporary aspect is the role of SARS-CoV-2 infections on diabetic foot. The COVID-19 pandemic has had far-reaching effects on global healthcare systems and has also influenced the management and severity of diabetic foot syndrome ( 26 ). Individuals with diabetes are already predisposed to various complications, including this syndrome, due to factors such as neuropathy and impaired vascular function.…”

COVID-19 and Laboratory Markers from Romanian Patients—A Narrative Review

“…The identification of high-risk patients and the proper allocation of healthcare resources during the pandemic may be carried out with the use of laboratory data, which have the potential to be utilized as early indicators to enhance the management of COVID-19 patients. Numerous proinflammatory cytokines, including c-reactive protein (CRP), lactate dehydrogenase (LDH), aspartate transaminase (AST), neutrophil count, neutrophils-tolymphocytes ratio (NLR), troponins (Tn s), creatine kinase (CK), D-dimers, and brain natriuretic peptide (BNP), are among the most often utilized COVID-19 indicators (Figure 1) [2,[9][10][11][12]. The present paper is a narrative review focusing on laboratory findings in COVID-19 patients from Romania.…”