Large increase in bloodstream infections with carbapenem-resistant Acinetobacter species during the first 2 years of the COVID-19 pandemic, EU/EEA, 2020 and 2021

Euro Surveill. 2022 Nov;27(46):2200845. doi: 10.2807/1560-7917.ES.2022.27.46.2200845.

Abstract

Recent data from the European Antimicrobial Resistance Surveillance Network (EARS-Net) show a large increase of +57% in Acinetobacter species bloodstream infections in the European Union and European Economic Area in the first years of the COVID-19 pandemic (2020-2021) compared with 2018-2019. Most were resistant to carbapenems, from intensive care units, and in countries with ≥ 50% carbapenem resistance in Acinetobacter spp. in 2018-2019. This highlights the requirement for reinforced Acinetobacter preparedness and infection prevention and control in Europe.

Keywords: Acinetobacter; COVID-19; EU/EEA; bacteraemia; pandemic.

MeSH terms

  • Acinetobacter*
  • Anti-Bacterial Agents / pharmacology
  • Anti-Bacterial Agents / therapeutic use
  • COVID-19*
  • Carbapenems / pharmacology
  • Carbapenems / therapeutic use
  • Drug Resistance, Bacterial
  • Humans
  • Pandemics
  • Sepsis* / drug therapy

Substances

  • Anti-Bacterial Agents
  • Carbapenems