379 - Epidemiology of Antimicrobial Use Among SARS-CoV-2 Positive and Negative Admissions in the US: A Multicenter Evaluation

Background: SARS-CoV-2, a novel coronavirus, emerged in Wuhan, China in December of 2019, and became a pandemic. Increases in bacterial/fungal co-infections have occurred during influenza pandemics and early data from this pandemic indicate high utilization of antimicrobial therapy. We compared the utilization of antimicrobials and health outcomes between SARS-CoV-2 positive and negative patients.

Methods: Patients hospitalized at 271 US acute care facilities from 3/1/20-5/30/20 with ≥1 day length of stay (LOS) and ≥24 hours of antimicrobial therapy tested for SARS-CoV-2 were included in the study (BD Insights Research Database [Becton, Dickinson & Company, Franklin Lakes, NJ]). Demographics, antimicrobial utilization, duration of antimicrobial therapy, hospital LOS and ICU LOS data were analyzed by SARS-CoV-2 test results.

Results: 142,054 patients were tested for SARS CoV-2 and 12% (n=17,075) were SARS-CoV-2 positive. SARS-CoV-2 negative and positive patients did not differ regarding presence of a positive bacterial culture. Total LOS, % ICU admission, and ICU LOS were higher among SARS-CoV-2 positive patients (Table). In total 48% of admissions were prescribed antimicrobial therapy; rates were higher in SARS-CoV-2 positive versus negative admissions (68% vs. 46%). The most common antimicrobials and classes are in Table.Antimicrobial therapy and outcomes in hospitalized SARS-CoV-2 tested patients.


Conclusion: Almost half of patients tested for SARS-CoV-2 were prescribed antimicrobials, with antimicrobial use higher among those with SARS-CoV-2, despite similar rates of positive cultures. On average, antimicrobials were prescribed within 10 hours from the time to admission among patients tested. These treatment patterns may highlight the difficulties in making treatment decisions and concerns over potential bacterial superinfection in SARS-CoV-2, but also indicate potential overuse of antimicrobials. Collateral damage from antimicrobial overuse include increase selection of antimicrobial resistance, adverse effects of drugs, and unnecessary treatment costs. It will be important to continue to evaluate the utilization and appropriateness of antimicrobial use among SARS-CoV-2 patients.