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

BACKGROUND

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.