Impact of sepsis in patients admitted with covid-19 infection in a tertiary care center in Delhi. A retrospective cross-sectional study

Background: COVID-19 pandemic has emerged as one of the worst humanitarian crises in human history. Viral sepsis is implicated as a major source of morbidity and mortality in COVID-19 infection. The study provides an insight into impact of COVID -19 associated sepsis on the patient's clinical course and mortality. Materials and Methods: The study was conducted on 112 participants admitted with symptomatic COVID -19 infection in a COVID -19 designated center in New Delhi, India between July and October 2020. Result: 41.1% (n=46) of the participants had critical disease which includes sepsis. Out of 46 Critical patients 19 (41.3%) had sepsis, 21(45.7%) had septic shock and 6 (18.8%) had Sepsis with ARDS. Sepsis and septic shock at time of presentation was associated with higher mortality. Conclusion: Severe and critical illness was marked by advance age, comorbidities like Diabetes mellitus, high total leucocyte count and deranged renal and hepatic function in the study. Thus COVID-19 induced sepsis is an important determinant of disease severity precipitating multiorgan dysfunction and adverse outcome in patients.