Back to Search Start Over

Mismanagement of SARS-CoV-2 Infection Pre Hospitalisation during the Omicron Era: Antibiotics and Steroids Instead of Early Antivirals

Authors :
Andrea Giacomelli
Cosmin Lucian Ciubotariu
Martina Zacheo
Andrea Rabbione
Margherita Pieruzzi
Federico Barone
Andrea Poloni
Giacomo Casalini
Giacomo Pozza
Marta Colaneri
Matteo Passerini
Anna Lisa Ridolfo
Cristina Gervasoni
Dario Cattaneo
Andrea Gori
Spinello Antinori
Source :
Viruses, Vol 16, Iss 7, p 1005 (2024)
Publication Year :
2024
Publisher :
MDPI AG, 2024.

Abstract

The aim of this study was to assess the prevalence of inappropriate treatment among hospitalised patients affected by SARS-CoV-2 infection before hospital admission during the Omicron era. This single-centre, retrospective observational study included all the patients hospitalised because of SARS-CoV-2 infection during three periods characterised by the Italian prevalence of an Omicron variant of concern: (1) January–May 2022 (BA.1–BA.2), (2) June–October 2022 (BA.5), and (3) November 2022–March 2023 (BQ.1-XBB). Inappropriate treatment was defined as pre-hospitalisation exposure to antibiotics and/or steroids in the absence of a documented bacterial infection or the need for steroid treatment of an underlying medical condition. A total of 931 subjects were hospitalised: 394 in period 1, 334 in period 2, and 203 in period 3. Of the 157 patients undergoing inappropriate treatment (16.9%), 142 (15.3%) received antibiotics and 52 (5.6%) steroids. The proportion of inappropriately treated patients significantly decreased over time, from 23.1% in period 1 to 11.7% in period 2 and 13.3% in period 3 (p < 0.001), and there was a parallel decrease in antibiotic (p < 0.001) and steroid treatment (p < 0.013). Only 13 subjects (1.4%) received early pre-hospitalisation treatment for SARS-CoV-2. A significant proportion of hospitalised COVID-19 patients were exposed to inappropriate treatment before hospital admission.

Details

Language :
English
ISSN :
19994915
Volume :
16
Issue :
7
Database :
Directory of Open Access Journals
Journal :
Viruses
Publication Type :
Academic Journal
Accession number :
edsdoj.23af1a80544baf8fdbceda92c20ecb
Document Type :
article
Full Text :
https://doi.org/10.3390/v16071005