ABSTRACT
Aim of this study is to evaluate the incidence of fungal infections in COVID-19 intensive care unit (ICU) patients, to identify potential risk factors and to investigate whether differences in patients' outcomes are depicted. Material-Methods: This prospective observational study included critically ill patients diagnosed with COVID-19 that were admitted from 1/9/2020 to 1/11/2021 in ICU of the 1st Respiratory Department of Sotiria Chest Diseases Hospital. Epidemiologic characteristics, severity of disease, medication, outcome and complications were recorded. Result(s): Out of 300 patients included (213 men, 60,4+/-13,23 (mean+/-SD) years-old), 22 (7,3%) developed fungal infections (16 COVID-19 Associated Pulmonary Aspergillosis, 5 COVID-19 Associated Candidemia and 1 both). They were 6 female & 16 male, 55,73+/-13,28 years-old. Most patients had co-infections with multi-drug resistant bacteria. Patients with fungal infections were statistifically more on high dose of corticosteroids, invasive mechanical ventilation and renal replacement treatment (p<0.05). They had statistically more positive blood and bronchial secretion cultures, as well as more incidents of septic shock, venous thromboembolism and varotrauma (p<0.05). Their PaO2/FiO2 ratio on admission was statistically lower (p<0.05). Finally, after adjustment for confounfing factors and ICU days, they were at higher risk of dying (50% mortality). Conclusion(s): Fungal infections are a significant co-infection in critically ill COVID-19 patients. Those patients seem to have more severe respiratory failure on admission, be on higher doses of corticosteroids and in need of organ failure support. They also seem to develop more complications of COVID-19 and be at a higher risk of dying.