SARS-CoV-2 vs Streptococcus pneumoniae: a comparison of clinical features, laboratory findings, and clinical outcomes in patients hospitalized at Alessandria’s General Hospital

Iacopo Megna; Serena Penpa; Antonella Cassinari; Christian Leli; Andrea Rocchetti; Annalisa Roveta; Marta Betti; Antonio Maconi

doi:10.4081/wpph.2023.9809

Authors

Iacopo Megna
iacopomegna@gmail.com
Research Training Innovation Infrastructure, Research and Innovation Department, Azienda Ospedaliera SS. Antonio e Biagio e Cesare Arrigo, Alessandria, Italy. https://orcid.org/0000-0001-9508-3037
Serena Penpa Research Training Innovation Infrastructure, Research and Innovation Department, Azienda Ospedaliera SS. Antonio e Biagio e Cesare Arrigo, Alessandria, Italy.
Antonella Cassinari Research Training Innovation Infrastructure, Research and Innovation Department, Azienda Ospedaliera SS. Antonio e Biagio e Cesare Arrigo, Alessandria, Italy. https://orcid.org/0009-0001-7954-0055
Christian Leli Microbiology Laboratory, Azienda Ospedaliera SS. Antonio e Biagio e Cesare Arrigo, Alessandria, Italy. https://orcid.org/0000-0002-8689-7028
Andrea Rocchetti Microbiology Laboratory, Azienda Ospedaliera SS. Antonio e Biagio e Cesare Arrigo, Alessandria, Italy. https://orcid.org/0000-0002-6259-5295
Annalisa Roveta Research Laboratories, Research and Innovation Department, Azienda Ospedaliera SS. Antonio e Biagio e Cesare Arrigo, Alessandria, Italy. https://orcid.org/0000-0003-2484-0963
Marta Betti Research Training Innovation Infrastructure, Research and Innovation Department, Azienda Ospedaliera SS. Antonio e Biagio e Cesare Arrigo, Alessandria, Italy. https://orcid.org/0000-0002-1372-6666
Antonio Maconi Research Training Innovation Infrastructure, Research and Innovation Department, Azienda Ospedaliera SS. Antonio e Biagio e Cesare Arrigo, Alessandria, Italy. https://orcid.org/0000-0002-1904-7277

Aims: the aim of the present study was to compare the clinical, anamnestic, and laboratory features and outcomes of Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) pneumonia and pneumonia caused by Streptococcus pneumoniae in hospitalized patients at the General Hospital of Alessandria, Italy. Materials and Methods: radiological diagnosis of pneumonia by chest X-ray and/or chest Computed Tomography (CT); microbiological diagnosis of SARS-CoV-2 infection by nasopharyngeal swab Reverse Transcriptase - Polymerase Chain Reaction (RT-PCR), etiological diagnosis of S. pneumoniae pneumonia by positive urinary antigen detection and/or isolation of S. pneumoniae from respiratory and/or blood cultures. Results: 222 patients were included, 171 with SARS-CoV-2 pneumonia and 51 with S. pneumoniae. SARS-CoV-2 group most frequently treated with antiviral drugs: 139/171 (81.3%) vs 1/51 (2.1%); p<0.001; they often needed oxygen therapy: 142/171 (83%) vs 27/51 (56.3%); p<0,001; and non-invasive mechanical ventilation: 59/171 (34.5%) vs 7/51 (14.6%); p=0.004. Mortality was higher in SARS-CoV-2 pneumonia patients: 46/171 (26.9%) than in pneumococcal pneumonia patients 5/51 (9.8%); p=0.011. Conclusions: the study showed the increased prevalence of pneumonia caused by SARS-CoV-2 and S. pneumoniae in males than in females. Moreover, patients with SARS-CoV-2 pneumonia represent higher risk group for complications and death than S. pneumoniae.

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Megna, I., Penpa, S., Cassinari, A., Leli, C., Rocchetti, A., Roveta, A., Betti, M., & Maconi, A. (2024). SARS-CoV-2 vs Streptococcus pneumoniae: a comparison of clinical features, laboratory findings, and clinical outcomes in patients hospitalized at Alessandria’s General Hospital. Working Paper of Public Health, 11(1). https://doi.org/10.4081/wpph.2023.9809