[Bacterial coinfection in the critically-ill COVID-19 patient: incidence, impact and need for antimicrobial therapy]. / Coinfección bacteriana en el paciente COVID-19 crítico: incidencia, impacto y necesidad de tratamiento antibiótico.

OBJECTIVE: To assess the frequency of bacterial coinfection upon ICU admission in SARS-CoV-2 pneumonia patients, its microbiology, and impact on prognosis.The secondary objective was to identify risk factors for coinfection on admission. METHODS: Retrospective study, including patients with SARS-CoV-2 pneumonia admitted to the ICU.We defined bacterial coinfection by respiratory symptoms, radiological data, positive and clinically significant microbiological results in samples obtained in the first 48 h of admission and/or a determination of procalcitonin ≥ 0.5 ng/mL in the first 48 h.We evaluated demographic variables, comorbidities, SARS-CoV-2 infection data, severity scores, treatments received, need for respiratory support and outcomes (ICU and hospital mortality). RESULTS: A total of 182 patients were analyzed, 62 (34.1%) with bacterial coinfection.The most frequent microbiology was S. pneumoniae and M. pneumoniae. 96.1% of the patients received antibiotic therapy on admission, 98.9% corticosteroids, 27.5% tocilizumab, and 7.7% remdesivir.85.7% required invasive mechanical ventilation.The SOFA score (OR: 1.315, 95% CI1.116-1.548) and the delay in ICU admission (OR: 0.899, 95% CI 0.831-0.972) were related to the risk of coinfection. Bacterial coinfection increases the risk of death in hospital (OR 2.283; 95% CI 1.011.5.151; p=0.047). CONCLUSIONS: Bacterial coinfection is common in COVID patients admitted to the ICU and increases the risk of death. It is not possible to identify with certainty, at the time of admission, which patients do not benefit from antibiotic treatment.

[Resuscitation strategy for patients with sepsis and septic shock]. / Estrategia integral de reanimación del paciente con sepsis y shock séptico.

Fluid and vasopressor resuscitation is, along with antimicrobial therapy and control of the focus of infection, a basic issue of the treatment of sepsis and septic shock. There is currently no accepted protocol that we can follow for the resuscitation of these patients and the Surviving Sepsis Campaign proposes controversial measures and without sufficient evidence support to establish firm recommendations. We propose a resuscitation strategy adapted to the situation of each patient: in the patient in whom community sepsis is suspected, we consider that the early administration of 30mL/kg of crystalloids is effective and safe; in the patient with nosocomial sepsis, we must carry out a more in-depth evaluation before initiating aggressive resuscitation. In patients who do not respond to initial resuscitation, it is necessary to increase monitoring level and, depending on the hemodynamic profile, administer more fluids, a second vasopressor or inotropes.

COVID-19 and Acute Respiratory Distress Syndrome. Impact of corticosteroid treatment and predictors of poor outcome.

OBJECTIVE: To assess the impact of corticosteroids on inflammatory and respiratory parameters of patients with COVID-19 and acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS). METHODS: Longitudinal, retrospective, observational study conducted in an ICU of a second level hospital. Adult patients with COVID-19 were included. Baseline characteristics, data on SARS-CoV-2 infection, treatment received, evolution of respiratory and inflammatory parameters, and ICU and hospital stay and mortality were analyzed. RESULTS: A total of 27 patients were included, 63% men, median age: 68.4 (51.8, 72.2) years. All patients met ARDS criteria and received MV and corticosteroids. After corticosteroids treatment we observed a reduction in the O2 A-a gradient [day 0: 322 (249, 425); day 3: 169 (129.5, 239.5) p<0.001; day 5: 144 (127.5, 228.0) p<0.001; day 7: 192 (120, 261) p=0.002] and an increase in the pO2/FiO2 ratio on days 3 and 5, but not on day 7 [day 0: 129 (100, 168); day 3: 193 (140, 236) p=0.002; day 5: 183 (141, 255) p=0.004; day 7: 170 (116, 251) p=0.057]. CRP also decreased on days 3 and 5 and increased again on day 7 [day 0: 16 (8.6, 24); day 3: 3.4 (1.7, 10.2) p<0.001; day 5: 4.1 (1.4, 10.2) p<0.001; day 7: 13.5 (6.8, 17.3) p=0.063]. Persistence of moderate ARDS on day 7 was related to a greater risk of poor outcome (OR 6.417 [1.091-37.735], p=0.040). CONCLUSIONS: Corticosteroids appears to reduce the inflammation and temporarily improve the oxygenation in COVID-19 and ARDS patients. Persistence of ARDS after 7 days treatment is a predictor of poor outcome.

Epidemiology and outcome of HIV-infected patients admitted to the ICU in the current highly active antiretroviral therapy era.

PURPOSE: To describe the epidemiology of critical disease in HIV-infected patients during the current highly active antiretroviral therapy (HAART) era and to identify hospital mortality predictors. METHODS: A longitudinal, retrospective observational study was made of HIV-infected adults admitted to the ICU in two Spanish hospitals between 1 January 2000 and 31 December 2014. Demographic and HIV-related variables were analyzed, together with comorbidities, severity scores, reasons for admission and need for organ support. The chi-squared test was used to compare categorical variables, while continuous variables were contrasted with the Student's t-test, Mann-Whitney U-test or Kruskal-Wallis test, assuming an alpha level=0.05. Multivariate logistic regression analysis was used to calculate odds ratios for assessing correlations to mortality during hospital stay. Joinpoint regression analysis was used to study mortality trends over time. RESULTS: A total of 283 episodes were included for analyses. Hospital mortality was 32.9% (95%CI: 21.2-38.5). Only admission from a site other than the Emergency Care Department (OR 3.64, 95%CI: 1.30-10.20; p=0.01), moderate-severe liver disease (OR 5.65, 95%CI: 1.11-28.87; p=0.04) and the APACHE II score (OR 1.14, 95%CI: 1.04-1.26; p<0.01) and SOFA score at 72h (OR 1.19, 95%CI: 1.02-1.40; p=0.03) maintained a statistically significant relationship with hospital mortality. CONCLUSIONS: Delayed ICU admission, comorbidities and the severity of critical illness determine the prognosis of HIV-infected patients admitted to the ICU. Based on these data, HIV-infected patients should receive the same level of care as non-HIV-infected patients, regardless of their immunological or nutritional condition.