Erratum: SARS-CoV-2 infection in dialysis patients in northern Italy: a single-centre experience.

[This corrects the article DOI: 10.1093/ckj/sfaa084.][This corrects the article DOI: 10.1093/ckj/sfaa084.].

Long-term effects of COVID-19 in a patient on maintenance dialysis.

Coronavirus infectious disease (COVID-19) is a novel respiratory infection highly associated with severe complications in elderly subjects affected by cardiovascular disease. Patients on maintenance dialysis are exceptionally vulnerable because most of them are old and have multiple comorbidities. We report the complex clinical course of SARS-CoV-2 infection in a patient on maintenance dialysis who presented with fever and lung edema. After 41 days from the primary infection, the clinically recovered patient experienced symptomatic reactivation of SARS-COV-2 infection documented by positive polymerase chain reaction (PCR) result on nasal/oropharyngeal swab along with immunoglobulin M seroconversion. The recurrence of PCR positivity forced us to perform hemodialysis in a separate isolation room for a prolonged period of time. Close monitoring of previously infected patients and restructuring of dialysis facilities are necessary to avoid new outbreaks of this concerning disease.

SARS-CoV-2 infection in dialysis patients in northern Italy: a single-centre experience.

BACKGROUND: Dialysis patients are considered at high risk for COVID-19 and the infection can easily spread in dialysis units. METHODS: We conducted an observational single-centre cohort study to describe clinical characteristics, treatments and outcomes of dialysis patients with severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) infection. We tested patients who presented symptoms or had contact with a confirmed case. We enrolled 15 patients positive for SARS-CoV-2. RESULTS: We tested 37 of 306 dialysis patients. Patients with SARS-CoV-2 infection were older (mean age 75.96 ± 11.09 years) and all had comorbidities. At presentation, most had interstitial infiltrates on chest X-ray, three-quarters had leucopenia and none had respiratory insufficiency. During follow-up, there was an increase in serum C-reactive protein and interleukin-6. Eighty percent of patients received supplemental oxygen; none received non-invasive ventilation, one was intubated. Most patients (80%) were treated with oral hydroxychloroquine for a median time of 6.5 days [interquartile range (IQR) 5-14.5] and 40% received azithromycin; two patients received a short course of antivirals and one received a single dose of tocilizumab. Only two patients did not require hospitalization. Of the nine survivors, eight still tested positive for SARS-CoV-2 a median of 19 days (IQR 9.25-23) after diagnosis. Six patients died (case fatality rate 40%) a median of 5.5 days (IQR 1.75-9.75) after diagnosis. The main reported cause of death was respiratory failure related to COVID-19 (five patients). CONCLUSIONS: We report a single-centre experience of SARS-CoV-2 infection in dialysis patients. The disease showed a high case fatality rate and most patients required hospitalization. Survivors show prolonged viral shedding.