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SESSION TITLE: Post-COVID-19 Infection Complications SESSION TYPE: Case Report Posters PRESENTED ON: 10/17/2022 12:15 pm - 01:15 pm INTRODUCTION: Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome-Coronavirus-2 (SARS-CoV-2) is the causative agent of coronavirus disease-2019 (COVID-19). Post-infectious encephalitis secondary to SARS-CoV-2 may present with delirium, seizures, or transient comatose state. The mechanism of encephalitis in patients with COVID-19 is multifactorial. Cytokine release syndrome, a systemic hyperinflammatory condition, might have an integral part in the pathophysiology of this manifestation. Beneficial effects of pulse dose glucocorticoid therapy, with and without plasma exchange or IVIG, have been described. (1, 2) In this case report, we disclose a case of a young healthy male that presented with acute encephalopathy after 10 days of contracting SARS-CoV-2 and aim to discuss the potential role of IVIG and pulse dose steroid. CASE PRESENTATION: A 37-year-old previously healthy Caucasian man initially presented to urgent care with fatigue and generalized weakness and was diagnosed with acute COVID-19 infection through positive PCR. Four days later, he developed shortness of breath, syncope and vomiting. He was taken to the ER, where he had a witnessed seizure complicated by status epilepticus requiring endotracheal intubation for airway protection. He was then airlifted to our University Hospital. Upon arrival, labs were notable for elevated troponin, leukocytosis, and mildly elevated liver enzymes. An echocardiogram revealed stress induced (Takotsubo) cardiomyopathy. CT head was normal and continuous EEG showed focal electrographic seizures of left temporal onset. MRI of brain with/without contrast showed subtle areas of cortical diffusion hyperintensity involving left cerebral hemisphere including left posterior temporal lobe, lateral occipital lobe, posterior lateral frontal lobe and posterior lateral parietal lobe with subtle patchy areas of cortical enhancement on postcontrast T1-weighted images. CSF analysis was benign and CSF PCR for SARS-CoV-2 was negative. One gram daily IV methylprednisolone and IVIG therapy was given for total 5 days. On Day 2 of therapy, seizures subsided, and patient was successfully extubated after. Repeat MRI brain with/without contrast done after day of therapy showed improvement in previously demonstrated findings. He improved clinically and was discharged home on hospitalization day. DISCUSSION: Post-infectious COVID-19 encephalitis falls under the spectrum of disease described under neurological syndromes related to SARS-CoV-2 infection.(3) Diagnosis is based on Clinical presentation, positive COVID PCR on nasopharyngeal swab and Imaging demonstrating cortical enhancement on post contrast T1-weighted imaging. Out of various treatment options described in literature (1,2), our patient responded well to pulse dose steroids and IVIG therapy for 5 days. CONCLUSIONS: Careful selection of patients and therapies should be considered when post-infectious COVID-19 encephalitis is suspected. Reference #1: Cao A, Rohaut B, Le Guennec L, et al. Severe COVID-19-related encephalitis can respond to immunotherapy. Brain. 2020;143(12):e102. doi:10.1093/brain/awaa337 Reference #2: Pugin D, Vargas MI, Thieffry C, et al. COVID-19-related encephalopathy responsive to high-dose glucocorticoids. Neurology. 2020;95(12):543-546. doi:10.1212/WNL.0000000000010354 Reference #3: Al-Ramadan A, Rabab'h O, Shah J, Gharaibeh A. Acute and Post-Acute Neurological Complications of COVID-19. Neurol Int. 2021;13(1):102-119. Published 2021 Mar 9. doi:10.3390/neurolint13010010 DISCLOSURES: No relevant relationships by Ali Ahmad No relevant relationships by Varun Halani No relevant relationships by Michael Lasky No relevant relationships by Posan Limbu
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SESSION TITLE: ECMO and ARDS in COVID-19 Infections SESSION TYPE: Rapid Fire Original Inv PRESENTED ON: 10/17/2022 12:15 pm - 1:15 pm PURPOSE: The purpose of the study is to determine the incidence of bloodstream infections in COVID19 patients treated with ECMO in relation to steroid days and days of ECMO cannulation. METHODS: Retrospective analysis of data for COVID19 patients treated with ECMO in a tertiary academic medical center from January 2020 until July 2021 was performed. Data including baseline patients’ characteristics, type, and duration of ECMO support, type and days of steroids used, blood culture results, and organism type were collected. An institutional review board (IRB) approval was obtained before data collection. A two-tailed T-test was used to calculate the P-value, P-value of <0.05 was considered significant. RESULTS: A Total of 34 patients were analyzed, 3 of them were on (Veno-Arterial) VA ECMO and 31 on (Veno-Venous) VV ECMO, 32 out of 34 (94%) patients received steroids (Dexamethasone alone 16 patients, Methylprednisolone 1 patient and 15 patients received multiple steroid types). Seventeen patients had positive blood cultures (50%), average steroid days for patients with positive blood cultures was 21.6 days compared to 11.8 days for patients with negative blood cultures (P-Value:0.01), Average ECMO days for patients with positive blood cultures was 40.5 days compared to 18.8 days for patients with negative blood cultures ( P-Value:0.01). Staphylococcus epidermidis was found in 47% of the cultures, Enterococcus Faecalis was found in 24% of cultures while MRSA, MSSA, and Candida Albicans were found in 6% of cultures. CONCLUSIONS: Bloodstream Infections during ECMO cannulation are common and carry significant morbidity and mortality in patients. Longer ECMO days and longer duration of steroid use were found to be associated with higher rates of bloodstream infections in our patient’s sample. This could be related to the instrumentation risk or immunosuppression from steroids or other factors not evaluated in this study. CLINICAL IMPLICATIONS: Bloodstream infections are common in patients treated with ECMO, the risk of infections increases with longer ECMO and steroid days. Knowledge of such risks and trying to minimize them such as cautious use of steroids might help in the prevention of infections. Further studies are needed to better assess this risk. DISCLOSURES: No relevant relationships by Varun Halani No relevant relationships Added 03/21/2022 by Ghassan Kamel, value=Honoraria Removed 03/21/2022 by Ghassan Kamel No relevant relationships Added 03/22/2022 by Ghassan Kamel, value=Honoraria Removed 03/22/2022 by Ghassan Kamel No relevant relationships by Ahmad Sharayah
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SESSION TITLE: Not the Normal Host: Infections Still Matter SESSION TYPE: Rapid Fire Original Inv PRESENTED ON: 10/17/2022 12:15 pm - 1:15 pm PURPOSE: The purpose of this study is to determine the incidence of hospital acquired and ventilator associated pulmonary infections in patients on ECMO for SARS-CoV-2 related ARDS in relation to steroids and ECMO cannulation days. METHODS: A retrospective analysis of COVID19 patients treated with ECMO admitted to a tertiary care academic medical center from January 2020 until July 2021 was conducted. Data including baseline patient characteristics, type, and duration of ECMO support, type and days of steroids use and sputum culture results were collected. An institutional review board (IRB) approval was obtained prior to data collection. A two-tailed T-test was used to calculate the P-value, P-value of <0.05 was considered significant. RESULTS: A total of 34 patients were included in the analysis, of which 3 of them were on (Veno-Arterial) VA-ECMO and 31 were on (Veno-Venous) VV-ECMO. 32 out of 34 (94%) patients received steroids during their hospital course. Total of 20 patients had positive sputum cultures (59%) and average steroid days for patients with positive sputum cultures was 20.75 days as compared to 10.75 days for patients with negative sputum cultures (P-Value: 0.01). Average ECMO days for patients with positive sputum cultures was 26 days as compared to 14.4 days for patients with negative sputum cultures (P Value: 0.0003). Amongst the patients with positive sputum cultures, pseudomonas aeruginosa and methicillin-sensitive staphylococcus aureus (MSSA) were the most isolated organisms (25% of positive cultures), methicillin-resistant staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) and Serratia Marcescens were isolated in 20% of positive cultures, Klebsiella aerogenes was isolated in 15% of positive cultures. CONCLUSIONS: Hospital acquired and ventilator associated pulmonary infections are common in patients on ECMO for SARS-CoV2 related ARDS. Longer ECMO days and a longer duration of steroid use were found to be associated with higher rates of bacterial growth in sputum cultures. Common organisms included Pseudomonas, MSSA, and MRSA. CLINICAL IMPLICATIONS: Our analysis describes the most common bacterial organisms isolated on sputum cultures in this study population. It may also serve as a guide for empiric antibiotics choice when bacterial pneumonia is suspected in similar patients while awaiting sputum culture results. DISCLOSURES: No relevant relationships by Varun Halani No relevant relationships Added 03/21/2022 by Ghassan Kamel, value=Honoraria Removed 03/21/2022 by Ghassan Kamel No relevant relationships Added 03/22/2022 by Ghassan Kamel, value=Honoraria Removed 03/22/2022 by Ghassan Kamel No relevant relationships by Ahmad Sharayah
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INTRODUCTION: COVID-19 associated invasive pulmonary aspergillosis (CAPA) has been described in more than 33 case reports. The incidence is closely related to the increased of use of dexamethasone after publication of the RECOVERY trial. Diagnosis of CAPA remains challenging in critically ill patients due to absence of typical radiological features such as halo sign. Schauwvlieghe et al. developed modified AspICU criteria for influenza associated pulmonary aspergillosis (IAPA) which can be used for CAPA. CASE DESCRIPTION: A 63-year-old male with hypertension and diabetes was admitted to ICU with hypoxia requiring 100% oxygen on BiPAP. Upon presentation, he was tachycardic and hypertensive with respiratory distress. Laboratory findings were significant for leukocytosis and acute kidney injury with hyperkalemia necessitating renal replacement therapy. A chest radiograph demonstrated bilateral opacities (Image 1). SARS-CoV-2 PCR was positive. He received dexamethasone and broad-spectrum antibiotics. He was intubated on day four of hospitalization due to worsening of hypoxia and was proned multiple times for severe ARDS. After initial improvement in hypoxia, the patient developed fevers and new leukocytosis with worsening infiltrates on chest imaging (Image 2). Multiple cultures from tracheal aspirate grew Aspergillus Spp. The serum beta-D glucan was elevated at 197 pg/mL and aspergillus galactomannan index was 3.39. Intravenous voriconazole was promptly initiated for presumptive diagnosis of CAPA based on AspICU criteria. Unfortunately, the patient developed worsening of hypoxia and increasing vasopressor requirement, ultimately leading to withdrawal of care. DISCUSSION: Dexamethasone use in COVID-19 ARDS may be associated with increased incidence of CAPA. Diagnosis of CAPA can be made using AspICU criteria which are based on clinical, radiological, and laboratory findings;one of each criteria necessary for diagnosis. Clinical criteria include: Fever refractory to at least 3 days of appropriate antibiotic therapy;recrudescent fever after a period of defervescence of at least 48 hours while on antibiotics;pleuritic chest pain;pleuritic rub;dyspnea;hemoptysis;or worsening respiratory insufficiency in spite of appropriate antibiotic therapy and ventilatory support. Radiological criteria include: Abnormal opacification on portable chest radiography or CT scan of the lungs. Mycological criteria include: Histopathology or direct microscopic evidence of dichotomous septate hyphae with positive culture for Aspergillus from tissue;a positive Aspergillus culture from a bronchoalveolar lavage (BAL);a galactomannan optical index on BAL of ≥1;or a galactomannan optical index on serum of ≥0.5. Initiation of prompt antifungal therapy is essential in these cases considering high mortality associated with invasive pulmonary aspergillosis.