Dissemin is shutting down on January 1st, 2025

Published in

MDPI, Viruses, 12(14), p. 2785, 2022

DOI: 10.3390/v14122785

Links

Tools

Export citation

Search in Google Scholar

The Role of Bacterial and Fungal Superinfection in Critical COVID-19

This paper is made freely available by the publisher.
This paper is made freely available by the publisher.

Full text: Download

Green circle
Preprint: archiving allowed
Green circle
Postprint: archiving allowed
Green circle
Published version: archiving allowed
Data provided by SHERPA/RoMEO

Abstract

Background: The range of reported rates of bacterial and fungal superinfections in patients with a severe course of COVID-19 is wide, suggesting a lack of standardised reporting. Methods: The rates of bacterial and fungal superinfection were assessed using predefined criteria to differentiate between infection and contamination. Results: Overall, 117 patients admitted to the Intensive Care Unit due to severe COVID-19 were included. Overall, 55% of patients developed a superinfection and 13.6% developed a fungal superinfection (5.9% candidemia and 7.7% CAPA). The rate of ventilator-associated pneumonia was 65.2%. If superinfection was detected, the length of hospital stay was significantly longer and the mortality was especially increased if candidemia was detected. An increased risk of superinfection was observed in patients with pre-existing diabetes mellitus or chronic heart failure. The presence of immunomodulating therapy did not seem to have an impact on the frequency of superinfections. Conclusion: Increased awareness of high superinfection rates, fungal infections in particular, in patients suffering from severe COVID-19 is necessary.