Protective effect of SARS-CoV-2 preventive measures against ESKAPE and Escherichia coli infections

Abstract The ESKAPE pathogens (Enterococcus faecium, Staphylococcus aureus, Klebsiella pneumoniae, Acinetobacter baumannii, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, and Enterobacter spp.) are endowed with resistance mechanisms allowing them to 'escape' the biocidal effect of antibiotics.1 The ESKAPE pathogens and Escherichia coli (hereafter referred to as ESKAPEEc) are the emerging cause of healthcare-associated infections, especially in critically ill patients admitted to Intensive Care Units (ICU).2 The antimicrobial resistance (AMR) of ESKAPEEc negatively affects clinical outcomes, such as length of stay (LoS), morbidity, and mortality, and increases overall costs.