Epidemiology of bacterial co-infections and risk factors in COVID-19-hospitalized patients in Spain: a nationwide study.

BACKGROUND: We performed a nationwide population-based retrospective study to describe the epidemiology of bacterial co-infections in coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19)-hospitalized patients in Spain in 2020. We also analyzed the risk factors for co-infection, the etiology and the impact in the outcome. METHODS: Data were obtained from records in the Minimum Basic Data Set (MBDS) of the National Surveillance System for Hospital Data in Spain, provided by the Ministry of Health and annually published with 2 years lag. COVID-19 circulated in two waves in 2020: from its introduction to 31st June and from 1st July to 31st December. The risk of developing a healthcare-associated bacterial co-infection and the risk for in-hospital and intensive care unit (ICU) mortality in co-infected patients was assessed using an adjusted logistic regression model. RESULTS: The incidence of bacterial co-infection in COVID-19 hospitalized patients was 2.3%. The main risk factors associated with bacterial co-infection were organ failure, obesity and male sex. Co-infection was associated with worse outcomes including higher in-hospital, in-ICU mortality and higher length of stay. Gram-negative bacteria caused most infections. Causative agents were similar between waves, although higher co-infections with Pseudomonas spp. were detected in the first wave and with Haemophilus influenzae and Streptococcus pneumoniae in the second. CONCLUSIONS: Co-infections are not as common as those found in other viral respiratory infections; therefore, antibiotics should be used carefully. Screening for actual co-infection to prescribe antibiotic therapy when required should be performed.

COVID-19 in donation and transplant.

SARS-CoV-2 infection has had a major impact on donation and transplantation. Since the cessation of activity two years ago, the international medical community has rapidly generated evidence capable of sustaining and increasing this neccesary activity. This paper analyses the epidemiology and burden of COVID-19 in donation and transplantation, the pathogenesis of the infection and its relationship with graft-mediated transmission, the impact of vaccination on donation and transplantation, the evolution of donation in Spain throughout the pandemic, some lessons learned in SARS-CoV-2 infected donor recipients with positive PCR and the applicability of the main therapeutic tools recently approved for treatment among transplant recipients.

Prevalence and factors associated with SARS-CoV-2 antibodies in a Spanish HIV cohort

Background: Within a prospective cohort of people with HIV (PWH) in Spain, we assessed the prevalence of SARS-CoV-2 antibodies (Ab), the proportion of asymptomatic COVID-19, and identified predictors of infection. Methods: We determined SARS-CoV-2 Ab in plasma samples collected from April 1st to September 30th, 2020, from enrollees in the Spanish HIV Research Network Cohort (CoRIS), a prospective national cohort of PWH, naive to ART at study entry, seen for the first time from January 1st, 2004. Samples were stored at-80°C in the Spanish HIV BioBank, and serology was performed using the Platelia SARS-CoV-2 Total Ab assays (BioRad, Hercules, CA, USA). Illness severity (NIH criteria) was assessed by medical records review and, if needed, participant interviews. Multivariable logistic regression analysis was used to identify predictors of seropositivity among the following variables: sex, age, country of birth, education level, comorbidities (hypertension, chronic heart disease, diabetes, non-AIDS related cancer, chronic kidney disease, cirrhosis), route of HIV acquisition, prior AIDS, CD4+ cell count, HIV viral load, and N(t)RTI backbone. Results: During the study period, blood samples were collected and stored in the HIV BioBank from 1,076 consecutive PWH in CoRIS: 88.0% male at birth, median age 43 yr., 72.3% MSM, 97.7% on ART, median CD4+ 688 cells/mm3, 91.4% undetectable HIV viral load. SARS-CoV-2 Ab were detected in 91 PWH, for a seroprevalence of 8.5% (95%CI: 6.9%-10.3%). A total of 41 PWH (45.0%) had asymptomatic infections;the disease was mild in 43 (47.3%), moderate in 4 (4.4%), severe in 3 (3.3%), and 0 critical. Seven PWH (7.7%) were hospitalized. COVID-19 was confirmed by RT-PCR in 22 (24.2%) PWH. Variables independently associated with SARS-CoV-2 seropositivity were birth in Latin American (LA) Countries vs. Spain (adjusted odds ratio [aOR]: 2.34, 95%CI: 1.42-3.85;P=.001);arterial hypertension (aOR: 1.63, 95%CI: 1.00-2.67;P=.050);and therapy with tenofovir disoproxil fumarate plus emtricitabine (TDF/FTC) vs tenofovir alafenamide (TAF)/FTC as the N(t)RTI backbone (aOR: 0.32, 95%CI: 0.12-0.84;P=.021). (Table). Conclusion: A large proportion of SARS-CoV-2 infections among PWH were asymptomatic. Birth in LA-countries and arterial hypertension were associated with increased risk of SARS-CoV-2 seropositivity. Our analysis, adjusted by comorbidities and other variables, suggest that TDF/FTC may prevent SARS-CoV-2 infection among PWH. (Figure Presented).