Diagnosis of bacterial blood stream infections in coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) using 16S rRNA sequencing method

Introduction and Aim: Patients, who are positive for Coronavirus disease 2019 in association with bacterial co-infection may be more severe, the treatment is more problematic, and the treatment cycle is prolonged overall. This study aims to investigate bacterial blood stream infection in Coronavirus disease 2019 using 16S rRNA sequencing methods. Materials and Methods: Two ml leftover blood samples from 50 patients with laboratory confirmed RT-PCR positive for Coronavirus disease 2019, who got admitted to the intensive care unit (ICU) in Quarantine Center in Baghdad, Iraqi were enrolled in this clinical case series study. Results: The total of 13 positive sample PCR products were sequenced. The sequencing-based identification of these isolates included: Serratia marcescens,Achromobacterxylosoxidans, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Acinetobacter baumannii and Staphylococcus aureus. Conclusion:The significance of considering bacterial blood infection in Coronavirus disease 2019 patients even in the setting of a blood cultures are negative and clinicians ought to know about Serratia marcescens an A. xylosoxidans while treating Coronavirus disease 2019 patients due to resistant pattern to many antimicrobial agents.