Examining the influence of Covid-19 restrictions, a nurse strike, and SARS-CoV-2 coinfection on bacteremia mortality: A Danish population-based cohort study (2019-2022)

OBJECTIVES: Bacteremia is an acute severe infection with high mortality. Changes in healthcare services and coinfections with SARS-CoV-2 may have affected the mortality for bacteremia during the COVID-19 pandemic, which has been reported for other major diseases. In this study we examine the all-cause bacteremia mortality amidst the COVID-19 pandemic.

METHODS: A population-based cohort study comprised of laboratory confirmed bacteremia episodes in the Capital Region, Denmark (March 2019-February 2022). Cox proportional hazards models were used to calculate hazard ratios (HR) and 95 % confidence intervals (CI) for all-cause bacteremia mortality associated with the Covid-19 restriction period, a strike period, and coinfection with SARS-CoV-2, adjusted for possible confounders.

RESULTS: A total of 14,912 bacteremia episodes were identified in 12,693 patients during the study period. The 30- and 90-day all-cause mortality were 19 % and 27 %, respectively. The fully adjusted HR for 30- and 90-day all-cause mortality associated with the Covid-19 restriction period were 0.91 (95 % CI, 0.84 to 0.99) and 0.90 (95 % CI, 0.84 to 0.96), respectively, compared to the remaining time period. The corresponding HRs associated with SARS-CoV-2 coinfection were 1.29 (95 % CI, 1.11 to 1.50) and 1.36 (95 % CI, 1.20 to 1.55) compared to patients without coinfection. The association between the national nurse strike and all-cause bacteremia mortality was inconclusive.

CONCLUSIONS: In this large population-based cohort study, a significant reduction in all-cause mortality for bacteremia was observed during the Covid-19 restriction period in Denmark, while coinfection with SARS-CoV-2 seem to be a substantial risk factor for all-cause bacteremia mortality.