Effectiveness of Streptococcus Pneumoniae Urinary Antigen Testing in Decreasing Mortality of COVID-19 Co-Infected Patients: A Clinical Investigation.

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: Streptococcus pneumoniae urinary antigen (u-Ag) testing has recently gained attention in the early diagnosis of severe and critical acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus-2/pneumococcal co-infection. The aim of this study is to assess the effectiveness of Streptococcus pneumoniae u-Ag testing in coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) patients, in order to assess whether pneumococcal co-infection is associated with different mortality rate and hospital stay in these patients. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Charts, protocols, mortality, and hospitalization data of a consecutive series of COVID-19 patients admitted to a tertiary hospital in northern Italy during COVID-19 outbreak were retrospectively reviewed. All patients underwent Streptococcus pneumoniae u-Ag testing to detect an underlying pneumococcal co-infection. Covid19+/u-Ag+ and Covid19+/u-Ag- patients were compared in terms of overall survival and length of hospital stay using chi-square test and survival analysis. RESULTS: Out of 575 patients with documented pneumonia, 13% screened positive for the u-Ag test. All u-Ag+ patients underwent treatment with Ceftriaxone and Azithromycin or Levofloxacin. Lopinavir/Ritonavir or Darunavir/Cobicistat were added in 44 patients, and hydroxychloroquine and low-molecular-weight heparin (LMWH) in 47 and 33 patients, respectively. All u-Ag+ patients were hospitalized. Mortality was 15.4% and 25.9% in u-Ag+ and u-Ag- patients, respectively (p = 0.09). Survival analysis showed a better prognosis, albeit not significant, in u-Ag+ patients. Median hospital stay did not differ among groups (10 vs. 9 days, p = 0.71). CONCLUSIONS: The routine use of Streptococcus pneumoniae u-Ag testing helped to better target antibiotic therapy with a final trend of reduction in mortality of u-Ag+ COVID-19 patients having a concomitant pneumococcal infection. Randomized trials on larger cohorts are necessary in order to draw definitive conclusion.

Veno-venous ECMO during surgical repair of tracheal perforation: A case report.

INTRODUCTION: Extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO) is used extensively in cardiothoracic surgery both for hemodynamic and respiratory support. It has proven to be a valuable tool to maintain adequate oxygenation during tracheal surgery. Airway lesion may be an indication for veno-venous ECMO both in case of conservative management and in case of surgical repair. Here we report the case of a patient with a iatrogenic tracheal injury, successfully operated with the support of veno-venous extracorporeal oxygenation. PRESENTATION OF CASE: A 39-year-old female underwent an elective laparoscopic adhesiolysis. At the end of the procedure, the patient had developed subcutaneous emphysema. A CT-scan showed mediastinal and subcutaneous emphysema and left pneumothorax with a laceration of the membranous portion of the middle third of the trachea. A left pleural drain was inserted and a bronchoscopy showed a 2-cm long tear of the membranous portion in the middle third of the trachea. Veno-venous ECMO was established and surgical repair of the tracheal lesion was performed. Post-operative recovery was uneventful and the patient was discharged on 8th postoperative day. DISCUSSION: The use of Veno-venous ECMO allowed a safe intubation with optimal oxygenation. A selective intubation with a small tube was performed to prevent further tracheal injury and allow an adequate surgical space for tracheal repair. CONCLUSION: The use of ECMO support represents a safe and effective way to manage patients with ITI when surgical repair with minimally invasive ventilation is needed. Since this is a case report larger studies are needed to validate the technique.