Symptoms, Treatment, and Outcomes of COVID-19 Patients Coinfected with Clostridioides difficile: Single-Center Study from NE Romania during the COVID-19 Pandemic

The Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic has brought new challenges across medical disciplines, particularly in infectious medicine. In Romania, the incidence of SARS-CoV-2 (Severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2) infection increased dramatically since March 2020 until 2022. Antibiotic administration for pulmonary superinfections COVID-19 intensified and, consequently, rates Clostridioides difficile (CDI) were hypothesized. We conducted a single-center, retrospective, observational study on patients from North-Eastern Romania to assess clinical characteristics and outcomes (CD) coinfection, identify risk factors CDI patients. enrolled eighty-six coinfected admitted during 2020–February 2021 (mean age 59.14 years, 53.49% men, 67.44% urban residents) group On admission, symptoms more severe mono-infected patients, while associated intense inflammatory syndrome. main smoking, diabetes mellitus, antibiotic administration. Third generation cephalosporins (55%) carbapenems (24%) antibiotics used, significantly with CD hospitalization. Coinfection resulted longer hospitalization poorer outcomes. extensive use COVID-19, carbapenems, contributed substantially coinfection.