AI Article Synopsis

  • A study in a Greek ICU assessed the impact of corticosteroids on candidemia (fungal infection) rates during the COVID-19 pandemic, analyzing data from 2010 to August 2021.
  • The findings indicated a significant rise in candidemia episodes, from 5.2 per 100 admissions pre-pandemic to 33.6 during the pandemic, especially among COVID-19 patients (38.8 per 100 admissions).
  • The study concluded that the increase in candidemia was not solely due to corticosteroid use, but also related to the heightened workload of medical staff during the pandemic.

Article Abstract

Background: Patients with severe Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) are treated with corticosteroids.

Aim: We aimed to evaluate the role of corticosteroid treatment in candidemia development during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Methods: This retrospective study was conducted in a Greek ICU, from 2010 to August 2021, encompassing a pre-pandemic and a pandemic period (pandemic period: April 2020 to August 2021). All adult patients with candidemia were included.

Results: During the study period, 3,572 patients were admitted to the ICU, 339 patients during the pandemic period, of whom 196 were SARS-CoV-2-positive. In total, 281 candidemia episodes were observed in 239 patients, 114 in the pandemic period. The majority of candidemias in both periods were catheter-related (161; 50.4%). The incidence of candidemia in the pre-pandemic period was 5.2 episodes per 100 admissions, while in the pandemic period was 33.6 (p < 0.001). In the pandemic period, the incidence among COVID-19 patients was 38.8 episodes per 100 admissions, while in patients without COVID-19 incidence was 26.6 (p = 0.019). Corticosteroid administration in both periods was not associated with increased candidemia incidence.

Conclusions: A significant increase of candidemia incidence was observed during the pandemic period in patients with and without COVID-19. This increase cannot be solely attributed to immunosuppression (corticosteroids, tocilizumab) of severe COVID-19 patients, but also to increased workload of medical and nursing staff.

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http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC9035354PMC
http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.bjid.2022.102353DOI Listing

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