Table 1 Main baseline characteristics of all positive blood cultures included in the study stratified with respect of the period of the pandemic
First wave March 30–May 11 2020 | Interim period May 12–October 18 2020 | Second wave October 19 2020–May 31 2021 | p value* | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
Total number of episodes | n = 301 | n = 753 | n = 1661 | |
Age ≥ 60 years, n (%) | 147 (48.8) | 434 (57.6) | 994 (59.8) | < 0.01 |
Female sex, n (%) | 83 (27.6) | 206 (27.4) | 492 (29.6) | 0.47 |
Episodes originating at a university hospital, n (%) | 74 (24.6) | 308 (40.9) | 528 (31.8) | < 0.01 |
Blood culture contaminations n (%) | 125 (41.5) | 268 (35.6) | 706 (42.5) | < 0.01 |