Understanding the impact of COVID-19 on bacterial sepsis, antibiotic consumption and stewardship, and antimicrobial resistance

This study aims to address the following questions through a global network of hospitals: Is there evidence for a reduction in the total number or rates (per 1,000 inpatients) of blood cultures taken over twelve months? Has there been changes in antimicrobial usage (quantitative and qualitative)? Are there major changes in antibiotic resistance profiles from major pathogens? Have there been changes in antimicrobial stewardship and why? What is the overall change in the management of these patients? What is the impact of COVID-19 on infection control practices during the pandemic? Is there any evidence of reduction in nosocomial infections and bacterial outbreaks during the COVID-19 pandemic? We will collect clinical (patient-based [severe pneumonia, ARDS, sepsis patients], hospital and microbiological data from 11 countries (UK, Switzerland, Italy, Brazil, Nigeria, Malawi, Turkey, Iran, India, Bangladesh and South Korea). Our primary outcome will be to determine if there has been a reduction in blood cultures taken. Secondary outcomes include whether 1. changes in antimicrobial usage 2. major changes in antibiotic resistance profiles from major pathogens in hospitals during COVID-19 and correlate resistance profiles with antibiotic usage. 3. changes in infection control practices and other aspects of sepsis management behaviour during the COVID-19 pandemic.