Publications by authors named "Avni A Bavishi"
Current guidelines recommend patients with severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) pneumonia receive empirical antibiotics for suspected bacterial superinfection on the basis of weak evidence. Rates of ventilator-associated pneumonia (VAP) in clinical trials of patients with SARS-CoV-2 pneumonia are unexpectedly low. We conducted an observational single-center study to determine the prevalence and etiology of bacterial superinfection at the time of initial intubation and the incidence and etiology of subsequent bacterial VAP in patients with severe SARS-CoV-2 pneumonia.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFArticle Synopsis
- The study aimed to compare outcomes and respiratory mechanics between patients with COVID-19 who were intubated early (4-24 hours after presentation) versus later (5-10 days after presentation).
- It found that early intubation correlated with a significantly lower mortality rate (6% vs 30%) and no major differences in respiratory mechanics at intubation between the two groups.
- The late intubation cohort exhibited higher dead space ratios and had more dilated pulmonary segments on imaging, suggesting potential complications from delaying intubation.
Background: Severe community-acquired pneumonia secondary to SARS-CoV-2 is a leading cause of death. Current guidelines recommend patients with SARS-CoV-2 pneumonia receive empirical antibiotic therapy for suspected bacterial superinfection, but little evidence supports these recommendations.
Methods: We obtained bronchoscopic bronchoalveolar lavage (BAL) samples from patients with SARS-CoV-2 pneumonia requiring mechanical ventilation.