A large increase in hospital-onset and intensive-care-unit-onset Staphylococcus aureus bacteraemia rates in English acute trusts was observed between 2020 and 2021, coinciding with reported increases in coronavirus disease (Covid-19) cases and associated hospitalizations. Many of these S. aureus bacteraemia cases were defined as co-/secondary infections to Covid-19. Over the same period, increases in the percentage of ventilator-associated pneumonia-related bacteraemia were also found. The Covid-19 pandemic appears to have contributed to the increase in hospital-onset S. aureus bacteraemia in England; further studies are needed to better understand the impacts on patient outcomes.
Mason E, Nsonwu O, Elmes J, et al. J Hosp Infect. 2024;143:33-37. doi: 10.1016/j.jhin.2023.10.012.