Global Burden of Bloodstream Infections in COVID-19: Prevalence, Antimicrobial Resistance, and Mortality Risk.

ABSTRACT:

Background

Bloodstream infections (BSIs) complicate COVID-19 inpatients, increasing morbidity, mortality, and healthcare burden. This systematic review and meta-analysis evaluated prevalence, antimicrobial resistance (AMR), risk factors, and outcomes of BSIs in RT-PCR-confirmed COVID-19 cases.

Methods

We searched PubMed, Google Scholar, ScienceDirect, and MDPI journals (January 2020-August 2025) following PRISMA 2020 guidelines. Twenty-two observational studies (~123,500 patients, ~602,000 blood cultures) were included: 10 prospective and 12 retrospective. Random-effects models estimated pooled prevalence, odds ratios (ORs), and mean differences, with subgroup analyses (ICU, non-ICU, pediatric) and meta-regression.

Results

Pooled BSI prevalence was 8.2% (95% CI: 5.7-1

SUBMITTER: Mateescu DM 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC12568193 | biostudies-literature | 2025 Oct

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature