Five-Year Epidemiological Trends Of Gram-Negative ESKAPE Infections At Two Tertiary Hospitals In Kwazulu-Natal, South Africa: Insights From The COVID-19 Era

Background: Gram-negative ESKAPE pathogens contribute significantly to hospital-acquired infections. The COVID-19 pandemic disrupted healthcare delivery, potentially altering infection patterns. Aim: To assess the influence of age, gender, and healthcare facility on infections caused by gram-negative ESKAPE pathogens. Methods: A retrospective analysis of 4,781 patient records from Inkosi Albert Luthuli Central Hospital and Mahatma Gandhi Memorial Hospital (2018–2022) was conducted using Excel 365. Chi-square tests and Pearson correlation were used to assess associations. Results: Infections were most common in the 19–30-year group (27.51%), with a negative correlation between age and infection rates (r = -0.991, p < 0.001). Females accounted for 55.33% of cases. Klebsiella pneumoniae was the most prevalent pathogen. Significant associations were found between pathogen types and both hospitals (p = 0.009) and gender (p < 0.001). Conclusion: Contrary to global trends, infections predominantly affected younger adults in this cohort. Gender and hospital differences in pathogen prevalence were statistically significant. COVID-19 may have contributed to shifting infection demographics.