ABSTRACT
Background Antibiotic de-escalation (ADE) is a stewardship initiative that aims to reduce exposure to antimicrobials, thus limiting their unwanted effect, including antimicrobial resistance. Our study aims to describe the impact of ADE compared with the continuation of therapy on the outcome of critically ill coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) patients. Material and Methods A single-center retrospective study included critically ill COVID-19 adult patients admitted between January 1, 2019 and August 31, 2021, and started on broad-spectrum antibiotics. The primary outcome was intensive care unit (ICU) mortality. In addition, other clinical outcomes were evaluated, including ICU readmissions, length of stay, and superinfection. Results The study included 73 patients with a mean age of 61.0 ± 19.4, and ADE was performed in 10 (13.6%) of these. In the ADE group, 8/10 (80%) cultures were positive. ICU mortality was not statistically different between ADE and continuation of therapy groups (60 vs. 41.3%, respectively, P = 0.317). Superinfection occurred in 4 (5.4%) patients. Hospital mortality, length of stay, and ICU readmission rates did not differ significantly between groups. Conclusion De-escalation of broad-spectrum antibiotics in critically ill covid-19 patients was not associated with higher mortality. A larger cohort is needed to confirm these findings. Supplementary Information The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1007/s44229-023-00027-0.
ABSTRACT
In the era of SARS-CoV-2 variants and COVID-19 vaccination, the duration of infectious viral shedding and isolation in post vaccine breakthrough infections is challenging and depends on disease severity. The current study described a case of SARS-CoV-2 Delta variant pneumonia requiring hospitalization. The patient received two doses of BNT162b2 COVID-19 vaccines, and he had positive SARS-CoV-2 viral cultures 12 days post symptom onset. The time between the second dose of vaccine and the breakthrough infection was 6 months. While immunosuppression is a known risk factor for prolonged infectious viral shedding, age and time between vaccination and breakthrough infection are important risk factors that warrant further studies.
ABSTRACT
BACKGROUND: The objective of this study was to evaluate the effect of ribavirin and recombinant interferon (RBV/rIFN) therapy on the outcomes of critically ill patients with Middle East respiratory syndrome (MERS), accounting for time-varying confounders. METHODS: This is a retrospective cohort study of critically ill patients with laboratory-confirmed MERS from 14 hospitals in Saudi Arabia diagnosed between September 2012 and January 2018. We evaluated the association of RBV/rIFN with 90-day mortality and MERS coronavirus (MERS-CoV) RNA clearance using marginal structural modeling to account for baseline and time-varying confounders. RESULTS: Of 349 MERS patients, 144 (41.3%) patients received RBV/rIFN (RBV and/or rIFN-α2a, rIFN-α2b, or rIFN-ß1a; none received rIFN-ß1b). RBV/rIFN was initiated at a median of 2 days (Q1, Q3: 1, 3 days) from intensive care unit admission. Crude 90-day mortality was higher in patients with RBV/rIFN compared to no RBV/rIFN (106/144 [73.6%] vs 126/205 [61.5%]; P = .02]. After adjusting for baseline and time-varying confounders using a marginal structural model, RBV/rIFN was not associated with changes in 90-day mortality (adjusted odds ratio, 1.03 [95% confidence interval {CI}, .73-1.44]; P = .87) or with more rapid MERS-CoV RNA clearance (adjusted hazard ratio, 0.65 [95% CI, .30-1.44]; P = .29). CONCLUSIONS: In this observational study, RBV/rIFN (RBV and/or rIFN-α2a, rIFN-α2b, or rIFN-ß1a) therapy was commonly used in critically ill MERS patients but was not associated with reduction in 90-day mortality or in faster MERS-CoV RNA clearance.