Epidemiology and clinical characteristics of hospitalized adults with respiratory syncytial virus infection at a medical center in northern Taiwan.

The study aimed to describe respiratory syncytial virus infections among hospitalized adults between January 2021 and February 2023 from a single medical center in Taiwan. Clinical information from infected patients with RSV was via medical charts review. The incidence of RSV during the study period among adult inpatients showed seasonal variation and could be up to around 2 % in peak season. Among 19 patients identified, the major comorbidity was chronic heart disease (10/19; 52.6 %) followed by chronic pulmonary disease (5/19; 26.3 %) and diabetes mellitus (5/19; 26.3 %). A quarter of infected patients required intensive care with overall mortality reached 26.3 % and the readmission rates within 30 days after was 15.8 %. Our study results suggests that RSV infections among adults could cause a substantial disease burden on healthcare systems.

Clinical characteristics analysis of COVID-19 patients from the first significant community outbreak by SARS-CoV-2 variant B.1.1.7 in Taiwan as experienced from a single northern medical center.

BACKGROUND/PURPOSE: Clinical characteristics of patients in the first community outbreak of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) by severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) variant B.1.1.7 in Taiwan have not been characterized. METHODS: SARS-CoV-2 positive specimens from inpatients between May 7 and June 15 in 2021were screen for SARS-CoV-2 B.1.1.7 lineage by VirSNiP assay. Clinical characteristics were reviewed and compared with those from Feb 1 to April 30, 2020 and from Jan 1 to March 31, 2022. RESULTS: One hundred forty-one inpatients from May 7 to June 15, 2021 infected with SARS-CoV-2 B.1.1.7 lineage were included. The major presenting symptoms were fever (88.7%) and cough (59.6%). Incidence of relevant complications including pulmonary embolism, simultaneous infections with bacteria, virus, and fungi were 0.7%, 12.8%, 13.5%, and 2.1%, respectively. Old age, high Charlson comorbidity index, short of breath, and initial critical illness were independently associated with 28-day mortality (all p < 0.05). In comparison to COVID-19 inpatients from Feb 1 to April 30, 2020, patients from the outbreak by SARS-CoV-2 B.1.1.7 lineage were older, more severe in disease condition, higher mortality but less obvious initial presenting symptoms. After implementation of nationwide vaccination campaign in the next half year of 2021, COVID-19 inpatients from Jan 1 to March 31 in 2022 indicated less severe diseases than those infected with SARS-CoV-2 B.1.1.7 lineage. CONCLUSION: COVID-19 inpatients by SARS-CoV-2 variant B.1.1.7 with old age, multiple comorbidities, and more severe disease conditions were associated with increased mortality. Vaccination for this vulnerable populations may be helpful.

Hospital-acquired infections in patients hospitalized with COVID-19: First report from Taiwan.

BACKGROUND: Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) inpatients may acquire infections from other pathogens during hospital admission. This is the first research on this subject to be reported from Taiwan. METHODS: Confirmed COVID-19 inpatients were enrolled in this study from January 1, 2020 to July 31, 2021. Various types of pathogens in COVID-19 inpatients, with hospital-acquired infections, were identified and analyzed. The clinical characteristics of COVID-19 patients with and without hospital-acquired infections were reviewed and compared. RESULTS: Of the 204 patients included in the study, 32 (15.7%) patients experienced at least one infectious episode. Of 113 recorded episodes of infection, the predominant type was bacterial (88 of 113 infections, 77.9%); the most frequently isolated bacteria were Acinetobacter spp., followed by Stenotrophomonas maltophilia . With regard to viral infections (19 of 113, 16.8%), the Epstein-Barr virus ranked first place among the identified viruses. Four (3.5%) and 2 (1.8%) of 113 infectious episodes were caused by fungi and atypical pathogens. A multivariate analysis revealed that steroid use was an independent factor in hospital-acquired infections (odds ratio [OR], 6.97; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.15-42.43; p = 0.035). Patients with hospital-acquired infections were associated with increased 28-day and in-hospital mortality (18.8% vs 5.8% and 31.3% and 5.8%; p = 0.023 and <0.01, respectively), and a longer hospital stay (34 vs 19 days; p < 0.001), compared to those without hospital-acquired infections. CONCLUSION: Our study revealed the unique local epidemiology of hospital-acquired infections among COVID-19 inpatients in Taiwan. These patients were associated with increased mortality and prolonged hospital admissions.