Italian good practice recommendations on management of persons with Long-COVID.

A significant number of people, following acute SARS-CoV-2 infection, report persistent symptoms or new symptoms that are sustained over time, often affecting different body systems. This condition, commonly referred to as Long-COVID, requires a complex clinical management. In Italy new health facilities specifically dedicated to the diagnosis and care of Long-COVID were implemented. However, the activity of these clinical centers is highly heterogeneous, with wide variation in the type of services provided, specialistic expertise and, ultimately, in the clinical care provided. Recommendations for a uniform management of Long-COVID were therefore needed. Professionals from different disciplines (including general practitioners, specialists in respiratory diseases, infectious diseases, internal medicine, geriatrics, cardiology, neurology, pediatrics, and odontostomatology) were invited to participate, together with a patient representative, in a multidisciplinary Panel appointed to draft Good Practices on clinical management of Long-COVID. The Panel, after extensive literature review, issued recommendations on 3 thematic areas: access to Long-COVID services, clinical evaluation, and organization of the services. The Panel highlighted the importance of providing integrated multidisciplinary care in the management of patients after SARS-CoV-2 infection, and agreed that a multidisciplinary service, one-stop clinic approach could avoid multiple referrals and reduce the number of appointments. In areas where multidisciplinary services are not available, services may be provided through integrated and coordinated primary, community, rehabilitation and mental health services. Management should be adapted according to the patient's needs and should promptly address possible life-threatening complications. The present recommendations could provide guidance and support in standardizing the care provided to Long-COVID patients.

Hospital-acquired bloodstream infections in patients deceased with COVID-19 in Italy (2020-2021).

Introduction: In hospitalized patients with COVID-19, bloodstream infections (BSI) are associated with high mortality and high antibiotic resistance rates. The aim of this study was to describe BSI etiology, antimicrobial resistance profile and risk factors in a sample of patients deceased with COVID-19 from the Italian National COVID-19 surveillance. Methods: Hospital charts of patients who developed BSI during hospitalization were reviewed to describe the causative microorganisms and their antimicrobial susceptibility profiles. Risk factors were analyzed in univariate and multivariate analyses. Results: The study included 73 patients (71.2% male, median age 70): 40 of them (54.8%) received antibiotics and 30 (41.1%) systemic steroids within 48 h after admission; 53 (72.6%) were admitted to intensive care unit. Early steroid use was associated with a significantly shorter interval between admission and BSI occurrence. Among 107 isolated microorganisms, the most frequent were Enterococcus spp., Candida spp., Acinetobacter baumannii, and Klebsiella pneumoniae. Median time from admission to BSI was shorter for Staphylococcus aureus compared to all other bacteria (8 vs. 24 days, p = 0.003), and longer for Enterococcus spp., compared to all other bacteria (26 vs. 18 days, p = 0.009). Susceptibility tests showed a high rate of resistance, with 37.6% of the bacterial isolates resistant to key antibiotics. Resistance was associated with geographical area [adjusted odds ratio (AOR) for Central/South Italy compared to North Italy: 6.775, p = 0.002], and with early use of systemic steroids (AOR 6.971, p = 0.018). Conclusions: In patients deceased with COVID-19, a large proportion of BSI are caused by antibiotic-resistant bacteria. Early steroid use may facilitate this occurrence.

Dynamics of SARS-CoV-2 exposure in Malawian infants between February 2020 and May 2021.

Background: Very limited information is available on SARS-CoV-2 seroprevalence in infants in sub-Saharan countries. Objective: In this study, we aimed to determine the rate and the temporal evolution of SARS CoV-2 seropositivity in breastfed Malawian infants. Study design: Blood samples (n = 250) from 158 infants, born to HIV-negative women and women living with HIV, collected from February 2020 to May 2021, were first tested using an Anti-IgG/A/M SARS CoV 2 ELISA assay against trimeric spike protein, and then, if positive, confirmed using a second ELISA assay detecting IgG against Receptor Binding Domain. Results: The confirmed prevalence of anti-SARS CoV-2 antibodies was 31.0% (95% CI: 23.7%-38.3%) with no significant difference between HIV-exposed and HIV-unexposed infants (29.3% and 37.1% respectively, P = 0.410). The presence of anti-SARS-CoV-2 IgG was not associated with maternal socioeconomic or demographic indices. Conclusions: Our data underline the wide spread of the SARS-CoV-2 infection in the pediatric population in sub-Saharan Africa. Design of more specific serological tests for African samples and improvements in serosurveillance programs are needed for more rigorous monitoring of the dynamics of SARS-CoV-2 infection in Africa.

Characteristics of Long-COVID care centers in Italy. A national survey of 124 clinical sites.

Background: Despite the growing clinical relevance of Long-COVID, there is minimal information available on the organizational response of health services to this condition. Methods: A national online survey of centers providing assistance for Long-COVID was implemented. Information collected included date of start of activity, target population, mode of assistance and of referral, type and number of specialists available, diagnostic and instrumental tests, use of telemedicine and of specific questionnaires. Results: Between February and May 2022, 124 centers completed the survey. Half of them were situated in northern Italy. Most (88.9%) provided assistance through either outpatient visits or day hospital services. Eleven (8.9%) assisted pediatric patients. Access to centers included scheduled visits for previously hospitalized patients (67.7%), referral from primary care (62.1%), from other specialists (46.8%), and, less commonly, from other services. Almost half of the centers (46.3%) started their activity early in the pandemics (March-September 2020). Almost all (93.5%) communicated with primary care physicians, and 21.8% used telemedicine tools. The mean number of patients followed was 40 per month (median 20, IQR 10-40). In most cases, the center coordinator was a specialist in respiratory diseases (30.6%), infectious diseases (28.2%), or internal medicine (25.0%). At least half of the centers had specialistic support in cardiology, respiratory diseases, radiology, infectious diseases, neurology and psychology, but roughly one quarter of centers had just only one (14.5%) or two (9.7%) specialists available. The clinical assessment was usually supported by a wide range of laboratory and instrumental diagnostics and by multidimensional evaluations. Conclusions: Most of the centers had an articulate and multidisciplinary approach to diagnosis and care of Long-COVID. However, a minority of centers provided only single or dual specialistic support. These findings may be of help in defining common standards, interventions and guidelines that can reduce gaps and heterogeneity in assistance to patients with Long-COVID.

Differences in the clinical characteristics of COVID-19 patients who died in hospital during different phases of the pandemic: national data from Italy.

BACKGROUND: Epidemiological data obtained during the initial wave of the COVID-19 epidemic showed that persons dying with COVID-19 were typically older men with multiple chronic conditions. No studies have assessed if the characteristics of patients dying with COVID-19 have changed in the second phase of the epidemic, when the initial wave subsided. The aim of the present study was to compare characteristics of patients dying with COVID-19 in Italy in the first 'peak' phase of the epidemic and in its second phase. METHODS: Medical charts of patients with COVID-19 who died while in hospital in Italy were reviewed to extract information on pre-existing comorbidities, in-hospital complications, and disease trajectories. The course of the epidemic was classified in two 3-month periods: March-May 2020 and June-August 2020. FINDINGS: Overall, in the Italian population, 34,191 COVID-19 deaths occurred in March-May 2020 and 1,404 in June-August 2020. Patients dying in March-May were significantly younger (80.1 ± 10.6 vs. 82.8 ± 11.1 years, p < 0.001) and less frequently female (41.9% vs. 61.8%, p < 0.001) than those dying in June-August. The medical charts of 3533 patients who died with PCR-confirmed SARS-CoV-2 infection in March-May 2020 (10.3% of all deaths occurring in this period) and 203 patients who died in June-August 2020 (14.5% of all deaths occurring in this period) were analysed. Patients who died in March-May 2020, compared to those who died in June-August 2020, had significantly lower rates of multiple comorbidities (3 or more comorbidities: 61.8% vs 74.5%, p = 0.001) and superinfections (15.2% vs. 52.5%, p < 0.001). Treatment patterns also substantially differed in the two study periods, with patients dying in March-May 2020 being less likely to be treated with steroids (41.7% vs. 69.3%, p < 0.001) and more likely to receive antivirals (59.3% vs. 41.4%, p < 0.001). Survival time also largely differed, with patients dying in March-May 2020 showing a shorter time from symptoms onset to death (mean interval: 15.0 vs. 46.6 days, p < 0.001). The differences observed between the two periods remained significant in a multivariate analysis. INTERPRETATION: The clinical characteristics of patients dying with COVID-19 in Italy, their treatment and symptom-to-death survival time have significantly changed overtime. This is probably due to an improved organization and delivery of care and to a better knowledge of disease treatment.

Nonrespiratory Complications and Obesity in Patients Dying with COVID-19 in Italy.

OBJECTIVE: This study aimed to assess the impact of obesity on nonrespiratory complications in patients dying with coronavirus disease (COVID-19). METHODS: Medical charts of 3,694 of patients dying with COVID-19 in Italy were reviewed to extract information on demographics, preexisting comorbidities, and in-hospital complications leading to death. Multivariate logistic regressions were performed to assess the association of obesity with nonrespiratory complications. These analyses were adjusted for age, gender, and number of preexisting comorbidities. RESULTS: Obesity was present in 411/3,694 (11.1%) patients dying with COVID-19. Obesity was significantly associated with increased probability of experiencing acute renal failure (adjusted odds ratio [OR], 1.33; 95% CI: 1.04-1.71) and shock (adjusted OR, 1.54; 95% CI: 1.19-1.99). The associations of obesity with acute renal failure and shock were stronger in patients aged < 60 years (adjusted OR, 2.00; 95% CI: 1.09-3.67 and OR, 2.37; 95% CI 1.29-4.36) than in those aged 60 years or older (adjusted OR, 1.20; 95% CI: 0.90-1.60 and OR, 1.22; 95% CI: 0.91-1.65). CONCLUSIONS: In patients dying with COVID-19 in Italy, obesity is associated with an increased probability of nonrespiratory complications, particularly shock and acute renal failure. These associations seem stronger in younger than in older adults. Strategies should be put in place in patients with COVID-19 with obesity to prevent these complications.