Effects of COVID-19 Hospitalization Rates on the Incidence of Hospital-Acquired Candida Central Line-Associated Blood Stream Infection.

BACKGROUND: An increase in central line-associated bloodstream infections (CLABSIs) has been reported during the Coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic; however, few studies have documented causative pathogens, particularly Candida species associated with candidemia.

METHODS: This was a retrospective study based on the National Healthcare Safety Network surveillance definitions of CLABSI caused by Candida species during pre-COVID-19 (October 2017 to February 2020) and COVID-19 (March 2020 to December 2021) periods within a local community hospital. Candida CLABSI incidence per 1,000 central line days was compared between periods using the chi-square test and correlated with COVID-19 inpatient hospitalization rates using Pearson correlation.

RESULTS: Overall CLABSI (0.68 vs.1.98 per 1,000, p=0.004) and Candida CLABSI incidence (0.06 vs. 0.77 per 1,000, p=0.003) significantly increased from pre-COVID-19 to COVID-19 periods. There was a significant correlation between COVID-19 ICU hospitalizations and CLABSIs (R=0.18, p=0.048), but not acute care hospitalizations and CLABSIs (R=0.065, p=0.250). Conversely, there was a significant association between COVID-19 acute care hospitalizations and Candida CLABSIs (R=0.50, p<0.001), but not COVID-19 ICU hospitalizations and Candida CLABSIs (R=0.01, p=0.631).

CONCLUSION: During the COVID-19 pandemic, our facility experienced a significant increase in Candida CLABSI and a significant correlation of Candida CLABSIs with acute care COVID-19 hospitalizations.