A Rare Fatal Case of COVID-19 Co-Infection with Community-Acquired Methicillin-Resistant Staphylococcus Aureus in a Diabetic Patient

Zhaolu Meng,1 Rehanguli Wuxiuer,1 Feng Zhao,2 Qiao Yang1,3 1Department of Infectious Diseases, Sir Run Run Shaw Hospital, Alaer Hospital, Zhejiang University School of Medicine, Alaer, 843300, People’s Republic of China; 2Department of Clinical Laboratory, Sir Run Run Shaw Hospital, Alaer Hospital,...

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Main Authors: Meng Z, Wuxiuer R, Zhao F, Yang Q
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Dove Medical Press 2025-04-01
Series:Infection and Drug Resistance
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Online Access:https://www.dovepress.com/a-rare-fatal-case-of-covid-19-co-infection-with-community-acquired-met-peer-reviewed-fulltext-article-IDR
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author Meng Z
Wuxiuer R
Zhao F
Yang Q
author_facet Meng Z
Wuxiuer R
Zhao F
Yang Q
author_sort Meng Z
collection DOAJ
description Zhaolu Meng,1 Rehanguli Wuxiuer,1 Feng Zhao,2 Qiao Yang1,3 1Department of Infectious Diseases, Sir Run Run Shaw Hospital, Alaer Hospital, Zhejiang University School of Medicine, Alaer, 843300, People’s Republic of China; 2Department of Clinical Laboratory, Sir Run Run Shaw Hospital, Alaer Hospital, Zhejiang University School of Medicine, Alaer, 843300, People’s Republic of China; 3Department of Infectious Diseases, Sir Run Run Shaw Hospital, Zhejiang University School of Medicine, Hangzhou, 310016, People’s Republic of ChinaCorrespondence: Qiao Yang, Email zjuyangqiao@zju.edu.cnBackground: The co-infection of COVID-19 with community-acquired methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (CA-MRSA) is rare but can lead to severe outcomes, especially in diabetic patients with impaired immune function. CA-MRSA, especially PVL-positive strains, can exacerbate COVID-19 symptoms and drive rapid disease progression.Patient and Methods: We present a case of a 53-year-old diabetic female patient with poor glycemic control, who was hospitalized with COVID-19 and rapidly progressed to severe pneumonia. Despite antiviral treatment with Paxlovid and dexamethasone, as well as antimicrobial therapy with piperacillin-tazobactam, her condition deteriorated, leading to respiratory failure requiring extracorporeal membrane oxygenation. A post-mortem sputum culture confirmed MRSA on the day following the patient’s death.Conclusion: This case underscores the critical need for screening and treating bacterial co-infections in COVID-19 management, particularly in immunocompromised hosts, due to the enhanced pathogenicity of CA-MRSA strains. Early recognition and appropriate antimicrobial therapy are essential in reducing the impact of such co-infections.Keywords: COVID-19, methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus, co-infection, diabetes mellitus, pneumonia
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publishDate 2025-04-01
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series Infection and Drug Resistance
spelling doaj-art-c388c91c402a44c48975ba693ca471422025-08-20T02:20:17ZengDove Medical PressInfection and Drug Resistance1178-69732025-04-01Volume 1819351939102199A Rare Fatal Case of COVID-19 Co-Infection with Community-Acquired Methicillin-Resistant Staphylococcus Aureus in a Diabetic PatientMeng ZWuxiuer RZhao FYang QZhaolu Meng,1 Rehanguli Wuxiuer,1 Feng Zhao,2 Qiao Yang1,3 1Department of Infectious Diseases, Sir Run Run Shaw Hospital, Alaer Hospital, Zhejiang University School of Medicine, Alaer, 843300, People’s Republic of China; 2Department of Clinical Laboratory, Sir Run Run Shaw Hospital, Alaer Hospital, Zhejiang University School of Medicine, Alaer, 843300, People’s Republic of China; 3Department of Infectious Diseases, Sir Run Run Shaw Hospital, Zhejiang University School of Medicine, Hangzhou, 310016, People’s Republic of ChinaCorrespondence: Qiao Yang, Email zjuyangqiao@zju.edu.cnBackground: The co-infection of COVID-19 with community-acquired methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (CA-MRSA) is rare but can lead to severe outcomes, especially in diabetic patients with impaired immune function. CA-MRSA, especially PVL-positive strains, can exacerbate COVID-19 symptoms and drive rapid disease progression.Patient and Methods: We present a case of a 53-year-old diabetic female patient with poor glycemic control, who was hospitalized with COVID-19 and rapidly progressed to severe pneumonia. Despite antiviral treatment with Paxlovid and dexamethasone, as well as antimicrobial therapy with piperacillin-tazobactam, her condition deteriorated, leading to respiratory failure requiring extracorporeal membrane oxygenation. A post-mortem sputum culture confirmed MRSA on the day following the patient’s death.Conclusion: This case underscores the critical need for screening and treating bacterial co-infections in COVID-19 management, particularly in immunocompromised hosts, due to the enhanced pathogenicity of CA-MRSA strains. Early recognition and appropriate antimicrobial therapy are essential in reducing the impact of such co-infections.Keywords: COVID-19, methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus, co-infection, diabetes mellitus, pneumoniahttps://www.dovepress.com/a-rare-fatal-case-of-covid-19-co-infection-with-community-acquired-met-peer-reviewed-fulltext-article-IDRcovid-19methicillin-resistant staphylococcus aureusco-infectiondiabetes mellituspneumonia
spellingShingle Meng Z
Wuxiuer R
Zhao F
Yang Q
A Rare Fatal Case of COVID-19 Co-Infection with Community-Acquired Methicillin-Resistant Staphylococcus Aureus in a Diabetic Patient
Infection and Drug Resistance
covid-19
methicillin-resistant staphylococcus aureus
co-infection
diabetes mellitus
pneumonia
title A Rare Fatal Case of COVID-19 Co-Infection with Community-Acquired Methicillin-Resistant Staphylococcus Aureus in a Diabetic Patient
title_full A Rare Fatal Case of COVID-19 Co-Infection with Community-Acquired Methicillin-Resistant Staphylococcus Aureus in a Diabetic Patient
title_fullStr A Rare Fatal Case of COVID-19 Co-Infection with Community-Acquired Methicillin-Resistant Staphylococcus Aureus in a Diabetic Patient
title_full_unstemmed A Rare Fatal Case of COVID-19 Co-Infection with Community-Acquired Methicillin-Resistant Staphylococcus Aureus in a Diabetic Patient
title_short A Rare Fatal Case of COVID-19 Co-Infection with Community-Acquired Methicillin-Resistant Staphylococcus Aureus in a Diabetic Patient
title_sort rare fatal case of covid 19 co infection with community acquired methicillin resistant staphylococcus aureus in a diabetic patient
topic covid-19
methicillin-resistant staphylococcus aureus
co-infection
diabetes mellitus
pneumonia
url https://www.dovepress.com/a-rare-fatal-case-of-covid-19-co-infection-with-community-acquired-met-peer-reviewed-fulltext-article-IDR
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