COVID-19 associated infections in the ICU setting: A retrospective analysis in a tertiary-care hospital.

INTRODUCTION: Our work describes the frequency of superinfections in COVID-19 ICU patients and identifies risk factors for its appearance. Second, we evaluated ICU length of stay, in-hospital mortality and analyzed a subgroup of multidrug-resistant microorganisms (MDROs) infections. METHODS: Retrospective study conducted between March and June 2020. Superinfections were defined as appeared ≥48h. Bacterial and fungal infections were included, and sources were ventilator-associated lower respiratory tract infection (VA-LRTI), primary bloodstream infection (BSI), secondary BSI, and urinary tract infection (UTI). We performed a univariate analysis and a multivariate analysis of the risk factors. RESULTS: Two-hundred thirteen patients were included. We documented 174 episodes in 95 (44.6%) patients: 78 VA-LRTI, 66 primary BSI, 9 secondary BSI and 21 UTI. MDROs caused 29.3% of the episodes. The median time from admission to the first episode was 18 days and was longer in MDROs than in non-MDROs (28 vs. 16 days, p<0.01). In multivariate analysis use of corticosteroids (OR 4.9, 95% CI 1.4-16.9, p 0.01), tocilizumab (OR 2.4, 95% CI 1.1-5.9, p 0.03) and broad-spectrum antibiotics within first 7 days of admission (OR 2.5, 95% CI 1.2-5.1, p<0.01) were associated with superinfections. Patients with superinfections presented respect to controls prolonged ICU stay (35 vs. 12 days, p<0.01) but not higher in-hospital mortality (45.3% vs. 39.7%, p 0.13). CONCLUSIONS: Superinfections in ICU patients are frequent in late course of admission. Corticosteroids, tocilizumab, and previous broad-spectrum antibiotics are identified as risk factors for its development.

COVID-19 associated infections in the ICU setting: A retrospective analysis in a tertiary-care hospital.

Introduction: Our work describes the frequency of superinfections in COVID-19 ICU patients and identifies risk factors for its appearance. Second, we evaluated ICU length of stay, in-hospital mortality and analyzed a subgroup of multidrug-resistant microorganisms (MDROs) infections. Methods: Retrospective study conducted between March and June 2020. Superinfections were defined as appeared ≥48 h. Bacterial and fungal infections were included, and sources were ventilator-associated lower respiratory tract infection (VA-LRTI), primary bloodstream infection (BSI), secondary BSI, and urinary tract infection (UTI). We performed a univariate analysis and a multivariate analysis of the risk factors. Results: Two-hundred thirteen patients were included. We documented 174 episodes in 95 (44.6%) patients: 78 VA-LRTI, 66 primary BSI, 9 secondary BSI and 21 UTI. MDROs caused 29.3% of the episodes. The median time from admission to the first episode was 18 days and was longer in MDROs than in non-MDROs (28 vs. 16 days, p < 0.01). In multivariate analysis use of corticosteroids (OR 4.9, 95% CI 1.4-16.9, p 0.01), tocilizumab (OR 2.4, 95% CI 1.1-5.9, p 0.03) and broad-spectrum antibiotics within first 7 days of admission (OR 2.5, 95% CI 1.2-5.1, p < 0.01) were associated with superinfections. Patients with superinfections presented respect to controls prolonged ICU stay (35 vs. 12 days, p < 0.01) but not higher in-hospital mortality (45.3% vs. 39.7%, p 0.13). Conclusions: Superinfections in ICU patients are frequent in late course of admission. Corticosteroids, tocilizumab, and previous broad-spectrum antibiotics are identified as risk factors for its development.

Introducción: Nuestro trabajo describe la frecuencia de sobreinfecciones en pacientes con COVID-19 en UCI e identifica factores de riesgo asociados con su aparición. Secundariamente, evaluamos la estancia en UCI, mortalidad intrahospitalaria y analizamos un subgrupo de infecciones causadas por microorganismos multirresistentes (MDR). Métodos: Estudio realizado entre marzo y junio de 2020. Definimos como sobreinfección a aquellas que aparecieron ≥48 h del ingreso. Incluimos las causadas por bacterias y hongos y evaluamos la infección respiratoria asociada a la ventilación mecánica (IRAVM), bacteriemia primaria, bacteriemia secundaria e infección del tracto urinario. Se realizó un análisis multivariante de los factores de riesgo. Resultados: Incluimos 213 pacientes, documentándose 174 episodios de sobreinfección en 95 casos (44,6%): IRAVM 78 episodios, bacteriemia primaria 66, bacteriemia secundaria 9 e ITU 21. Los MDR causaron el 29,3% de los episodios. La mediana de tiempo hasta el primer episodio fue de 18 días, siendo mayor en las causadas por MDR vs. no MDR (28 vs. 16, p < 0,01). El análisis multivariante identificó la administración de corticoides (OR 4,9 IC 95% 1,4-16,9), tocilizumab (OR 2,4 IC 95% 1,1-5,9) y antibióticos de amplio espectro (OR 2,5 IC 95% 1,2-5,1) como factores de riesgo asociados. Los pacientes con sobreinfección presentaron una estancia en UCI más prolongada (35 vs. 12 días, p < 0,01) pero no mayor mortalidad intrahospitalaria (45,3% vs. 39,7%, p 0,13). Conclusiones: Las sobreinfecciones en los pacientes con COVID-19 aparecen tardíamente. La administración de corticoides, tocilizumab y antibióticos de amplio espectro se asocia con su aparición.