Incidence, Clinical Presentation, Relapses and Outcome of Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) Infection in Patients Treated With Anti-CD20 Monoclonal Antibodies.

BACKGROUND: Our objective is to describe the presentation and complications, including relapses, of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) in patients under anti-CD20 treatments. In addition, to describe viral clearance and determine the safety of reintroducing anti-CD20 treatment. METHODS: Retrospective cohort study of 422 patients under anti-CD20 treatment that was administered from 1 January 2019 to 31 December 2020. RESULTS: Fifty-seven patients were diagnosed with COVID-19 (13.5%). Twenty-five patients (43.9%) required hospital admission. Five patients died (8.8%), and 10 developed severe COVID-19 and acute respiratory distress syndrome. Mortality rate was higher among patients infected during the first 3 months following the last dose of anti-CD20 (14.7% vs 0%, P = .046). The median time of persistence of positive reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) was 22 days (IQR 13-40).Nine out of 52 survivors (17.3%) presented relapses. All of them received the last dose of anti-CD20 less than 6 months before the COVID-19 episode. Clinical presentation was fever (n = 8; 88.9%), dyspnea (n = 7; 77.8%), cough (n = 7; 77.8%), worsening of previous infiltrates (n = 5; 55.6%) and new pulmonary infiltrates (n = 8; 88.9%). An increase in lymphocytes with CD4/CD8 ratio inversion was observed in all cases. Among the 25 patients who resumed anti-CD20 drug, 4 (16.0%) presented relapses vs 5/28 among those who did not (17.9%), (P = .857). CONCLUSIONS: Patients infected with severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) during the 6 months after anti-CD20 administration had a worse outcome and a higher mortality rate. The duration of infectivity may be longer. Relapses of COVID-19 occurred in more than 15% and were associated with viral replication. Once the infection is resolved, it is safe to restart treatment with anti-CD20.

COVID-19-associated pulmonary aspergillosis (CAPA): Risk factors and development of a predictive score for critically ill COVID-19 patients.

BACKGROUND: COVID-19-associated pulmonary aspergillosis (CAPA) is a major complication of critically ill COVID-19 patients, with a high mortality rate and potentially preventable. Thus, identifying patients at high risk of CAPA would be of great interest. We intended to develop a clinical prediction score capable of stratifying patients according to the risk for CAPA at ICU admission. METHODS: Single centre retrospective case-control study. A case was defined as a patient diagnosed with CAPA according to 2020 ECMM/ISHAM consensus criteria. 2 controls were selected for each case among critically ill COVID-19 patients. RESULTS: 28 CAPA patients and 56-matched controls were included. Factors associated with CAPA included old age (68 years vs. 62, p = .033), active smoking (17.9% vs. 1.8%, p = .014), chronic respiratory diseases (48.1% vs. 26.3%, p = .043), chronic renal failure (25.0% vs. 3.6%, p = .005), chronic corticosteroid treatment (28.6% vs. 1.8%, p < .001), tocilizumab therapy (92.9% vs. 66.1%, p = .008) and high APACHE II at ICU admission (median 13 vs. 10 points, p = .026). A score was created including these variables, which showed an area under the receiver operator curve of 0.854 (95% CI 0.77-0.92). A punctuation below 6 had a negative predictive value of 99.6%. A punctuation of 10 or higher had a positive predictive value of 27.9%. CONCLUSION: We present a clinical prediction score that allowed to stratify critically ill COVID-19 patients according to the risk for developing CAPA. This CAPA score would allow to target preventive measures. Further evaluation of the score, as well as the utility of these targeted preventive measures, is needed.

Inadequate use of antibiotics in the covid-19 era: effectiveness of antibiotic therapy.

BACKGROUND: Since December 2019, the COVID-19 pandemic has changed the concept of medicine. This work aims to analyze the use of antibiotics in patients admitted to the hospital due to SARS-CoV-2 infection. METHODS: This work analyzes the use and effectiveness of antibiotics in hospitalized patients with COVID-19 based on data from the SEMI-COVID-19 registry, an initiative to generate knowledge about this disease using data from electronic medical records. Our primary endpoint was all-cause in-hospital mortality according to antibiotic use. The secondary endpoint was the effect of macrolides on mortality. RESULTS: Of 13,932 patients, antibiotics were used in 12,238. The overall death rate was 20.7% and higher among those taking antibiotics (87.8%). Higher mortality was observed with use of all antibiotics (OR 1.40, 95% CI 1.21-1.62; p < .001) except macrolides, which had a higher survival rate (OR 0.70, 95% CI 0.64-0.76; p < .001). The decision to start antibiotics was influenced by presence of increased inflammatory markers and any kind of infiltrate on an x-ray. Patients receiving antibiotics required respiratory support and were transferred to intensive care units more often. CONCLUSIONS: Bacterial co-infection was uncommon among COVID-19 patients, yet use of antibiotics was high. There is insufficient evidence to support widespread use of empiric antibiotics in these patients. Most may not require empiric treatment and if they do, there is promising evidence regarding azithromycin as a potential COVID-19 treatment.

A retrospective validation of different scores of guideline adherence and infectious diseases consultation on candidaemia: The higher, the better.

BACKGROUND: Recently, several scores to quantify compliance with the guidelines in candidaemia management (EQUAL, GEMICOMED, Valerio) have been developed. Evidence supporting the association of these scores to the prognosis is scarce. We aim to evaluate the performance of these candidaemia guideline adherence scores to predict candidaemia outcome. METHODS: We recorded retrospectively data from candidaemia episodes (January 2017-December 2018). We analysed adherence to guidelines for candidaemia management according to EQUAL, GEMICOMED and Valerio scores, and we correlated those to outcome. RESULTS: Fifty-four first episodes of candidaemia were retrieved. Five patients who died in the first 48 hours after blood cultures were not included. Thirty-day mortality in evaluable patients was 18.4%. Median adherence to guidelines according to EQUAL score was 17 (interquartile range [IQR]: 15-19), and according to GEMICOMED was 86% (IQR: 72.5%-100%). According to Valerio score, adequacy of antifungal prescription was 8.5/10 (SD: 1.9). A cut-off of ≥17 for EQUAL or compliance >70% for GEMICOMED was associated with inferior 30-day mortality (7.1% vs 33.3%, P = .028 and 7.9% vs 54.5%, P = .002, respectively). Infectious diseases (ID) evaluated cases obtained a better EQUAL score (>17; 82.1% vs 42.9%, P = .006), had inferior 30-day mortality (9.4% vs 35.3%, P = .049) and a better antifungal prescription adequacy (Valerio score 9.0 vs 7.5, P = .011). CONCLUSION: Adherence to guidelines for candidaemia management evaluated by means of EQUAL and GEMICOMED score was associated with a decreased 30-day mortality. Adequacy of antifungal prescription can be ameliorated. ID consultation improved guideline adherence and was associated with decreased 30-day mortality.

A Retrospective Controlled Cohort Study of the Impact of Glucocorticoid Treatment in SARS-CoV-2 Infection Mortality.

Evidence to support the use of steroids in coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pneumonia is lacking. We aim to determine the impact of steroid use for COVID-19 pneumonia on hospital mortality. We performed a single-center retrospective cohort study in a university hospital in Madrid, Spain, during March of 2020. To determine the role of steroids in in-hospital mortality, patients admitted with severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) pneumonia and treated with steroids were compared to patients not treated with steroids, and we adjusted with a propensity score for patients on steroid treatment. Survival times were compared using the log rank test. Different steroid regimens were compared and adjusted with a second propensity score. During the study period, 463 out of 848 hospitalized patients with COVID-19 pneumonia fulfilled inclusion criteria. Among them, 396 (46.7%) patients were treated with steroids and 67 patients were not. Global mortality was 15.1%. The median time to steroid treatment from symptom onset was 10 days (interquartile range [IQR], 8 to 13 days). In-hospital mortality was lower in patients treated with steroids than in controls (13.9% [55/396] versus 23.9% [16/67]; hazard ratio [HR], 0.51 [95% confidence interval, 0.27 to 0.96]; P = 0.044). Steroid treatment reduced mortality by 41.8% relative to the mortality with no steroid treatment (relative risk reduction, 0.42 [95% confidence interval, 0.048 to 0.65]). Initial treatment with 1 mg/kg of body weight/day of methylprednisolone versus steroid pulses was not associated with in-hospital mortality (13.5% [42/310] versus 15.1% [13/86]; odds ratio [OR], 0.880 [95% confidence interval, 0.449 to 1.726]; P = 0.710). Our results show that the survival of patients with SARS-CoV-2 pneumonia is higher in patients treated with glucocorticoids than in those not treated. Rates of in-hospital mortality were not different between initial regimens of 1 mg/kg/day of methylprednisolone and glucocorticoid pulses.

Characteristics of Clostridium difficile infection in patients with discordant diagnostic test results.

BACKGROUND: Clinical features of Clostridium difficile infection (CDI) cases diagnosed by detection of polymerase chain reaction (PCR), with negative toxin enzyme immunoassay results (EIA) have not been fully elucidated. The purpose of this study was to determine the magnitude of CDI patients who had negative EIA toxin determinations but positive PCR tests, and their differences in clinical presentation. METHODS: We performed a retrospective study comparing the clinical features of CDI cases detected by EIA (toxins A + B) with cases detected by PCR (toxin negative, PCR positive) over a 16-month period. Only patients with an initial Clostridium difficile infection episode that fulfilled a standardized definition were included. RESULTS: During the study period, 107 episodes of CDI were detected. Seventy-four patients (69%) had positive glutamate dehydrogenase (GDH) antigen and EIA determinations (EIA positive patients). Thirty-three patients (31%) had GDH positive, negative toxin EIA and positive PCR determination (PCR positive patients). PCR positive patients were younger, 57 (27) years (mean [SD]), than EIA positive patients, 71 (16) years, (p < 0.001). Fewer PCR positive patients were receiving proton pump inhibitors (21 patients, 64%) than EIA positive patients (61 patients, 82%, p = 0.034). The clinical presentation was similar in both groups. In the multivariate analysis, lower age was identified as the only independent variable associated with PCR positive patients. CONCLUSIONS: One third of Clostridium difficile infection patients present negative toxin EIA and PCR positive tests. Performing PCR determination after the negative EIA test is more relevant in younger patients.

Risk factors for Clostridium difficile diarrhea in patients with inflammatory bowel disease.

BACKGROUND: Despite the growing incidence of Clostridium difficile diarrhea (CCD) in patients with inflammatory bowel disease (IBD), little is known about the associated risk factors. METHOD: A retrospective study comparing cases of CCD in patients with IBD to IBD carriers who did not develop CCD. A comparison was also made with patients who developed CCD but did not suffer IBD. RESULTS: Three cases (20%) with IBD and CCD had received antibiotics during the previous three months versus none of the controls (IBD without CCD, p = 0.22). Ten cases (67%) received treatment with proton pump inhibitors (PPIs) versus 2 (13%) in the control group (IBD without CCD, p = 0.001). Seven cases underwent colonoscopy and pseudomembranes were seen in one (14%). Fourteen (93%) patients demonstrated a favourable response to metronidazole. Patients with IBD and CCD presented with younger age (36 ± 10 years), a higher degree of community-acquired infection (13 patients, 87%), immunosuppressive treatment (7 patients, 47%) and less patients had received previous antibiotic treatment (3 patients, 20%) than those with CCD without IBD. The proportion of patients who received treatment with PPIs was similar (66% and 80%, respectively p = 0.266). CONCLUSIONS: CCD in IBD carriers affects younger patients, the majority are community acquired (less nosocomial) and it is more related to previous treatment with PPIs than with the antibiotic treatment. Clinical evolution is also favourable.

Trends in epidemiology, surgical management, and prognosis of infective endocarditis during the XXI century in Spain: A population-based nationwide study.

BACKGROUND: Few population-based studies have evaluated the epidemiology of infective endocarditis (IE). Changes in population demographics and guidelines on IE may have affected both the incidence and outcomes of IE. Therefore, the aim of our study is to provide contemporary population-based epidemiological data of IE in Spain. METHODS: Retrospective nationwide observational study using data from the Spanish National Health System Discharge Database. We included all patients hospitalized with IE from January 2000 to December 2019. RESULTS: A total of 64,550 IE episodes were included. The incidence of IE rose from 5.25 cases/100,000 person-year in 2000 to 7.21 in 2019, with a 2% annual percentage change (95% CI 1.3-2.6). IE incidence was higher among those aged 85 or older (43.5 cases/100.000 person-years). Trends across the study period varied with sex and age. Patients with IE were progressively older (63.9 years in 2000-2004 to 70.0 in 2015-2019, p < 0.001) and had more frequent comorbidities and predispositions, including, previous valvular prosthesis (12.1% vs 20.9%, p < 0.001). After adjustment, a progressive reduction in mortality was noted including in 2015-2019 compared to 2010-2014 (adjusted odds ratio 0.93, 95% confident interval 0.88-0.99, p = 0.023)., which was associated with more frequent cardiac surgery in recent years (15.1% in 2010-2014 vs 19.9% in 2015-2019). CONCLUSIONS: In Spain, the incidence of IE has increased during the XXI century, with a more pronounced increase in elderly individuals. Adjusted-mortality decreased over the years, which could be related to a higher percentage of surgery. Our results highlight the changing epidemiology of IE.

Efficacy and safety of antiviral plus anti-spike monoclonal antibody combination therapy vs. monotherapy for high-risk immunocompromised patients with mild-to-moderate SARS-CoV2 infection during the Omicron era: A prospective cohort study.

INTRODUCTION: Antivirals and monoclonal antibodies lower the risk of progression in immunocompromised patients. However, combination therapy with both types of agents has not been studied. PATIENTS AND METHODS: This was a single-centre, prospective, cohort study. All immunocompromised patients who received treatment for mild-to-moderate COVID-19 from 1 January 2022 to 30 October 2022 were enrolled. The primary endpoint was COVID-19 progression at 90 days, defined as hospital admission or death due to COVID-19 and/or seronegative persistent COVID-19. RESULTS: A total of 304 patients were included: 43 patients (14.1%) received sotrovimab plus a direct-acting antiviral, and 261 (85.9%) received monotherapy. Primary outcome occurred more frequently after monotherapy (4.6% vs. 0%, P=0.154). Among patients with anti-spike immunoglobulin G (anti-S IgG) titre <750 BAU/mL, COVID-19 progression was more common after monotherapy (23.9% vs. 0%, P=0.001), including more frequent COVID-related admission (15.2% vs. 0%, P=0.014) and seronegative persistent COVID-19 (10.9% vs. 0%, P=0.044). Combination therapy was associated with lower risk of progression (odds ratio [OR] 0.08, 95% confidence interval [95% CI] 0.01-0.64). Anti-S IgG titre <750 BAU/mL and previous anti-CD20 were associated with higher risk of progression (OR 13.70, 95% CI 2.77-67.68; and OR 3.05, 95% CI 1.20-10.94, respectively). CONCLUSIONS: In immunocompromised patients, combination therapy with sotrovimab plus an antiviral may be more effective than monotherapy for SARS-CoV2.

Strategies for prevention and treatment of SARS-COV-2 infection in patients with chronic kidney disease: Literature review.

COVID-19 has proven to be particularly aggressive in patients with chronic kidney disease (CKD). The lower immune response rate and the greater susceptibility to progress to severe forms of the disease have contributed to this phenomenon, which has persisted in the post-vaccination era of the pandemic. Paradoxically, CKD has been excluded from most clinical trials of the main therapeutic tools developed against SARS-CoV-2. However, experience in the use of these drugs has been accumulating in different stages of CKD, supporting their use with guarantees of efficacy and safety. The objective of this review is to gather all treatment indications for COVID-19 in the different phases of the disease, tailored to CKD in its various stages, including renal replacement therapy.

Use of Monoclonal Antibodies in Immunocompromised Patients Hospitalized with Severe COVID-19: A Retrospective Multicenter Cohort.

OBJECTIVE: We aim to describe the safety and efficacy of sotrovimab in severe cases of COVID-19 in immunocompromised hosts. METHODS: We used a retrospective multicenter cohort including immunocompromised hospitalized patients with severe COVID-19 treated with sotrovimab between October 2021 and December 2021. RESULTS: We included 32 patients. The main immunocompromising conditions were solid organ transplantation (46.9%) and hematological malignancy (37.5%). Seven patients (21.9%) had respiratory progression: 12.5% died and 9.4% required mechanical ventilation. Patients treated within the first 14 days of their symptoms had a lower progression rate: 12.0% vs. 57.1%, p = 0.029. No adverse event was attributed to sotrovimab. CONCLUSIONS: Sotrovimab was safe and may be effective in its use for immunocompromised patients with severe COVID-19. More studies are needed to confirm these preliminary data.

Sequential oral antibiotic in uncomplicated Staphylococcus aureus bacteraemia: a propensity-matched cohort analysis.

OBJECTIVES: We aimed to analyse the efficacy and safety of oral sequential therapy (OST) in uncomplicated Staphylococcus aureus bacteraemia (SAB). METHODS: Single-centre observational cohort at a tertiary hospital in Spain, including all patients with the first SAB episode from January 2015 to December 2020. We excluded patients with complicated SAB and those who died during the first week. Patients were classified into the OST group (patients who received oral therapy after initial intravenous antibiotic therapy [IVT]), and IVT group (patients who received exclusively IVT). We performed a propensity-score matching to balance baseline differences. The primary composite endpoint was 90-day mortality or microbiological failure. Secondary endpoints included 90-day SAB relapse. RESULTS: Out of 407 SAB first episodes, 230 (56.5%) were included. Of these, 112 (n = 48.7%) received OST and 118 (51.3%) IVT exclusively. Transition to oral therapy was performed after 7 days (interquartile range, 4-11). The primary endpoint occurred in 10.7% (11/112) in OST vs. 30.5% (36/118) in IVT (p < 0.001). SAB relapses occurred in 3.6% (4/112) vs. 1.7% (2/118) (p 0.436). None of the deaths in OST were related to SAB or its complications. After propensity-score matching, the primary endpoint was not more frequent in the OST group (relative risk, 0.42; 95% CI, 0.22-0.79). Ninety-day relapses occurred similarly in both groups (relative risk, 1.35; 95% CI, 0.75-2.39). DISCUSSION: After an initial intravenous antibiotic, patients with uncomplicated SAB can safely be switched to oral antibiotics without apparent adverse outcomes. This strategy could save costs and complications of prolonged hospital stays. Prospective randomized studies are needed.

COVID-19 in hospitalized solid organ transplant recipients in a nationwide registry study.

OBJECTIVES: Underlying immunodeficiency has been associated with worse clinical presentation and increased mortality in patients with COVID-19. We evaluated the mortality of solid organ transplant (SOT) recipients (SOTR) hospitalized in Spain due to COVID-19. METHODS: Nationwide, retrospective, observational analysis of all adults hospitalized because of COVID-19 in Spain during 2020. Stratification was made according to SOT status. The National Registry of Hospital Discharges was used, using the International Classification of Diseases, 10th revision coding list. RESULTS: Of the 117,694 adults hospitalized during this period, 491 were SOTR: kidney 390 (79.4%), liver 59 (12%), lung 27 (5.5%), and heart 19 (3.9%). Overall, the mortality of SOTR was 13.8%. After adjustment for baseline characteristics, SOTR was not associated with higher mortality risk (odds ratio [OR] = 0.79, 95% confidence interval [CI] 0.60-1.03). However, lung transplantation was an independent factor related to mortality (OR = 3.26, 95% CI 1.33-7.43), while kidney, liver, and heart transplantation were not. Being a lung transplant recipient was the strongest prognostic factor in SOT patients (OR = 5.12, 95% CI 1.88-13.98). CONCLUSION: This nationwide study supports that the COVID-19 mortality rate in SOTR in Spain during 2020 did not differ from the general population, except for lung transplant recipients, who presented worse outcomes. Efforts should be focused on the optimal management of lung transplant recipients with COVID-19.

Faecal Microbiota Transplantation is a simple, effective and safe treatment in the management of C. difficile infection in daily clinical practice.

INTRODUCTION: Faecal microbiota transplantation (FMT) is a treatment supported by wide scientific evidence and proved to be very effective in the management of Clostridioides difficile infection (CDI). The objective of this study is to analyze its effectiveness and safety in a real clinical practice setting. METHODS: Retrospective, single-center and descriptive observational study in which all FMT performed between May 2016 and December 2020 were included. Technical success was defined as the successful administration of the faecal preparation in the patient's gastrointestinal tract and clinical success the disappearance of diarrhoea in the first 72 h after the procedure with no relapse within the following 8 weeks after the therapy was started. RESULTS: 15 FMT were performed in 13 patients. Median age was 79 years (range: 40-98 years); being 60% women and 33.3% depedent persons. The indication for FMT was recurrent CDI in 84.6%. All FMTs were performed by colonoscopy and from related donors. With a first procedure, the FMT was effective in 11 of 13 patients (84.61%; 95% CI; 54.55-98.07). Time until resolution of symptoms was less than 48 h in all cases. Post-transplant follow-up was 25.66 ±â€¯17.5 months. No significant short or long-term complications were recorded at follow-up. CONCLUSION: TMF is a simple, effective and safe procedure in CD infection, even in elderly patients or those with great comorbidities.

Pregnancy, obesity and other risk factors for complications in influenza A(H1N1) pdm09 infection.

Although influenza is usually a self-limited disease, patients who develop complications are at increased risk of hospitalization, intensive care unit admission and death. Since preventive and early therapeutic measures should be prioritized in higher risk patients, identification of the risk factors for severe infection is important from a public health perspective. Risk factors for complications in pandemics may show some differences with regard to seasonal influenza. During the influenza A(H1N1)pmd09 pandemic, although many cases occurred in younger adults, the risk factors identified for severe infections and complications were similar to those for seasonal influenza, including chronic respiratory, renal, liver, and heart diseases. Aged patients, although less frequently affected, were also at higher risk. Obesity, and particularly morbid obesity (>40 body mass index) has been noted as a significant risk factor for severe disease in the 2009 influenza pandemic. Some interesting recent studies provide insights into the biological reasons behind the poor outcomes in morbidly obese patients. In terms of pregnancy, the studies have shown contradictory results due to variations in methodology and medical care. However, it seems that pregnancy, particularly during the third trimester, increases the risk of complications, and that early antiviral treatment is associated with improved outcomes.

Red blood cell distribution width as prognostic factor in sepsis: A new use for a classical parameter.

PURPOSE: To evaluate Red blood cell distribution width (RDW) as a sepsis prognostic biomarker. METHODS: 203 septic patients admitted to the ICU. Analysis of RDW dynamics, hospital mortality discrimination ability and the added value when incorporated to the SOFA, LODS, SAPS-II and APACHE-II scores using the AUC-ROC. RESULTS: Non-survivors presented higher RDW values during the first week after ICU admission (p = 0.048). Only SOFA and RDW were independently associated with mortality when adjusted by Charlson, immunosuppression, nosocomial infection, NEWS2, SAPS-II, septic shock and haemoglobin (p < 0.05). After adjustment, AUC-ROC was 0.827, 0.822, 0.824, 0.834 and 0.812 for each model including admission, 24, 48 and 72-h and 7-days RDW, respectively. When added to the scores, 24-h RDW and admission RDW improved their discrimination ability (SOFA AUC-ROC = 0.772 vs 0.812 SOFA + admission RDW, p = 0.041; LODS AUC-ROC = 0.687 vs 0.710, p = 0.002; SAPS-II AUC-ROC = 0.734 vs 0.785, p = 0.021; APACHE-II AUC-ROC = 0.672 vs 0.755, p = 0.003). Admission RDW with SOFA presented the better discrimination ability for mortality. CONCLUSION: RDW is an independent prognostic marker of death in septic patients admitted in the ICU that improves SOFA, LODS, APACHE-II and SAPS-II discrimination ability. This parameter could be incorporated to the prognostic scores as a marker of systemic dysfunction and dysregulated inflammatory response.

Association of COVID-19-Associated Pulmonary Aspergillosis with Cytomegalovirus Replication: A Case-Control Study.

Introduction: Cytomegalovirus (CMV) infection is a well-known factor associated with invasive aspergillosis in immunocompromised hosts. However, its association with COVID-19-associated pulmonary aspergillosis (CAPA) has not been described. We aimed to examine the possible link between CMV replication and CAPA occurrence. Methods: A single-center, retrospective case-control study was conducted. A case was defined as a patient diagnosed with CAPA according to 2020 ECMM/ISHAM consensus criteria. Two controls were selected for each case among critically ill COVID-19 patients. Results: In total, 24 CAPA cases were included, comprising 14 possible CAPA and 10 probable CAPA. Additionally, 48 matched controls were selected. CMV replication was detected more frequently in CAPA than in controls (75.0% vs. 35.4%, p = 0.002). Probable CMV end-organ disease was more prevalent in CAPA (20.8% vs. 4.2%, p = 0.037). After adjusting for possible confounding factors, CMV replication persisted strongly associated with CAPA (OR 8.28 95% CI 1.90-36.13, p = 0.005). Among 11 CAPA cases with CMV PCR available prior to CAPA, in 9 (81.8%) cases, CMV replication was observed prior to CAPA diagnosis. Conclusions: Among critically ill COVID-19 patients, CMV replication was associated with CAPA and could potentially be considered a harbinger of CAPA. Further studies are needed to confirm this association.

Unreliability of Clinical Prediction Rules to Exclude without Echocardiography Infective Endocarditis in Staphylococcus aureus Bacteremia.

BACKGROUND: It is unclear whether the use of clinical prediction rules is sufficient to rule out infective endocarditis (IE) in patients with Staphylococcus aureus bacteremia (SAB) without an echocardiogram evaluation, either transthoracic (TTE) and/or transesophageal (TEE). Our primary purpose was to test the usefulness of PREDICT, POSITIVE, and VIRSTA scores to rule out IE without echocardiography. Our secondary purpose was to evaluate whether not performing an echocardiogram evaluation is associated with higher mortality. METHODS: We conducted a unicentric retrospective cohort including all patients with a first SAB episode from January 2015 to December 2020. IE was defined according to modified Duke criteria. We predefined threshold cutoff points to consider that IE was ruled out by means of the mentioned scores. To assess 30-day mortality, we used a multivariable regression model considering performing an echocardiogram as covariate. RESULTS: Out of 404 patients, IE was diagnosed in 50 (12.4%). Prevalence of IE within patients with negative PREDICT, POSITIVE, and VIRSTA scores was: 3.6% (95% CI 0.1-6.9%), 4.9% (95% CI 2.2-7.7%), and 2.2% (95% CI 0.2-4.3%), respectively. Patients with negative VIRSTA and negative TTE had an IE prevalence of 0.9% (95% CI 0-2.8%). Performing an echocardiogram was independently associated with lower 30-day mortality (OR 0.24 95% CI 0.10-0.54, p = 0.001). CONCLUSION: PREDICT and POSITIVE scores were not sufficient to rule out IE without TEE. In patients with negative VIRSTA score, it was doubtful if IE could be discarded with a negative TTE. Not performing an echocardiogram was associated with worse outcomes, which might be related to presence of occult IE. Further studies are needed to assess the usefulness of clinical prediction rules in avoiding echocardiographic evaluation in SAB patients.

Systemic Autoimmune Diseases in Patients Hospitalized with COVID-19 in Spain: A Nation-Wide Registry Study.

We aimed to evaluate the clinical outcome of Systemic Autoimmune Diseases (SADs) patients hospitalized with COVID-19 in Spain, before the introduction of SARS-CoV-2 vaccines. A nationwide, retrospective and observational analysis of the patients admitted during 2020, based on the ICD10 codes in the National Registry of Hospital Discharges, was performed. Among 117,694 patients, only 892 (0.8%) presented any type of SAD before COVID-19-related admission: Sjogren's Syndrome constituted 25%, Systemic Vasculitides 21%, Systemic Lupus Erythematosus 19%, Sarcoidosis 17%, Systemic Sclerosis 11%, Mixed and Undifferentiated Connective Tissue Disease 4%, Behçet's Disease 4% and Inflammatory Myopathies 2%. The in-hospital mortality rate was higher in SAD individuals (20% vs. 16%, p < 0.001). After adjustment by baseline conditions, SADs were not associated with a higher mortality risk (OR = 0.93, 95% CI 0.78−1.11). Mortality in the SADs patients was determined by age (OR = 1.05, 95% CI 1.04−1.07), heart failure (OR = 1.67, 95% CI 1.10−2.49), chronic kidney disease (OR = 1.29, 95% CI 1.05−1.59) and liver disease (OR = 1.97, 95% CI 1.13−3.44). In conclusion, the higher COVID-19 mortality rate seen in SADs patients hospitalized in Spain in 2020 was related to the higher burden of comorbidities, secondary to direct organ damage and sequelae of their condition. Whilst further studies should evaluate the impact of baseline immunosuppression on COVID-19 outcomes in this population, efforts should be focused on the optimal management of SAD to minimize the impact of the organ damage that has been shown to determine COVID-19 prognosis.