Prevalence of Bacterial Pathogens among Symptomatic–SARS-CoV-2 PCR-Negative Patients

Abstract

The epidemiological and clinical aspects of coronavirus disease-2019 (COVID-19) have been subjected to several investigations, but little is known about symptomatic patients with negative SARS-CoV-2 PCR results. The current study investigated patients who presented to the hospital with respiratory symptoms (but negative SARS-CoV-2 RT-PCR results) to determine the prevalence of bacterial pathogens among these patients. A total of 1246 different samples were collected and 453 species of bacterial pathogens were identified by culture. Antibiotic susceptibility testing was performed via the Kirby Bauer disc diffusion test. Patients showed symptoms, such as fever (100%), cough (83%), tiredness (77%), loss of taste and smell (23%), rigors (93%), sweating (62%), and nausea (81%), but all tested negative for COVID-19 by PCR tests. Further examinations revealed additional and severe symptoms, such as sore throats (27%), body aches and pain (83%), diarrhea (11%), skin rashes (5%), eye irritation (21%), vomiting (42%), difficulty breathing (32%), and chest pain (67%). The sum of n = 1246 included the following: males, 289 were between 5 and 14 years, 183 (15–24 years), 157 (25–34 years), 113 (35–49 years), and 43 were 50+ years. Females: 138 were between 5 and 14 years, 93 (15–24 years), 72 (25–34 years), 89 (35–49 years), and 68 were 50+ years. The Gram-positive organisms isolated were Staphylococcus aureus (n = 111, 80.43%, MRSA 16.6%), E. faecalis (n = 20, 14.49%, VRE: 9.4%), and Streptococcus agalactiae (n = 7, 5.07%), while, Gram-negative organisms, such as E. coli (n = 135, 42.85%, CRE: 3.49%), K. pneumoniae (n = 93, 29.52%, CRE: 1.58%), P. aeruginosa (n = 43, 13.65%), C. freundii (n = 21, 6.66%), Serratia spp. (n = 8, 2.53%), and Proteus spp. (n = 15, 4.76%) were identified.