Coronavirus disease 2019 in immunocompromised patients: a comprehensive review of coronavirus disease 2019 in hematopoietic stem cell recipients.

PURPOSE OF REVIEW: Immunocompromised patients are notably vulnerable to severe coronavirus disease 2019. This review summarizes COVID-19 features and outcomes in autologous and allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (HSCT) recipients. RECENT FINDINGS: Recent findings suggest that HSCT recipients exhibit a high burden of comorbidities and COVID-19 clinical features almost similar to the general COVID population. Furthermore, HSCT recipients exhibit a protracted SARS-CoV-2 shedding, prolonging duration of symptoms and promoting the generation of highly mutated viruses. Last, most of studies report a higher COVID-19 mortality in HSCT recipients, mainly driven by age, comorbidities, time from transplantation, and immunosuppression because of both treatments and underlying hematological malignancy. SUMMARY: Further studies are warranted to determine the proper impact of HSCT-related immune disorders on COVID-19 outcomes, and to evaluate specific treatments and vaccination strategy in this high-risk population. Taken together, those findings emphasize the need for more rigorous surveillance and preemptive measures for all HSCT recipients.

Infectious events in patients with severe COVID-19: results of a cohort of patients with high prevalence of underlying immune defect.

BACKGROUND: Empirical antibiotic has been considered in severe COVID-19 although little data are available regarding concomitant infections. This study aims to assess the frequency of infections, community and hospital-acquired infections, and risk factors for infections and mortality during severe COVID-19. METHODS: Retrospective single-center study including consecutive patients admitted to the intensive care unit (ICU) for severe COVID-19. Competing-risk analyses were used to assess cumulative risk of infections. Time-dependent Cox and fine and gray models were used to assess risk factors for infections and mortality. Propensity score matching was performed to estimate the effect of dexamethasone. RESULTS: We included 100 patients including 34 patients with underlying malignancies or organ transplantation. First infectious event was bacterial for 35 patients, and fungal for one. Cumulative incidence of infectious events was 27% [18-35] at 10 ICU-days. Prevalence of community-acquired infections was 7% [2.8-13.9]. Incidence density of hospital-acquired infections was 125 [91-200] events per 1000 ICU-days. Risk factors independently associated with hospital-acquired infections included MV. Patient's severity and underlying malignancy were associated with mortality. Dexamethasone was associated with increased infections (36% [20-53] vs. 12% [4-20] cumulative incidence at day-10; p = 0.01). After matching, dexamethasone was associated with hospital-acquired infections (35% [18-52] vs. 13% [1-25] at 10 days, respectively, p = 0.03), except in the subset of patients requiring MV, and had no influence on mortality. CONCLUSIONS: In this population of COVID-19 patients with high prevalence of underlying immune defect, a high risk of infections was noted. MV and use of steroids were independently associated with infection rate.

Acute kidney injury in patients with SARS-CoV-2 infection.

BACKGROUND: Acute Kidney Injury (AKI) is a frequent complication of severe SARS-CoV-2 infection. Multiple mechanisms are involved in COVID-19-associated AKI, from direct viral infection and secondary inflammation to complement activation and microthrombosis. However, data are limited in critically-ill patients. In this study, we sought to describe the prevalence, risk factors and prognostic impact of AKI in this setting. METHODS: Retrospective monocenter study including adult patients with laboratory confirmed SARS-CoV-2 infection admitted to the ICU of our university Hospital. AKI was defined according to both urinary output and creatinine KDIGO criteria. RESULTS: Overall, 100 COVID-19 patients were admitted. AKI occurred in 81 patients (81%), including 44, 10 and 27 patients with AKI stage 1, 2 and 3 respectively. The severity of AKI was associated with mortality at day 28 (p = 0.013). Before adjustment, the third fraction of complement (C3), interleukin-6 (IL-6) and ferritin levels were higher in AKI patients. After adjustment for confounders, both severity (modified SOFA score per point) and AKI were associated with outcome. When forced in the final model, C3 (OR per log 0.25; 95% CI 0.01-4.66), IL-6 (OR per log 0.83; 95% CI 0.51-1.34), or ferritin (OR per log 1.63; 95% CI 0.84-3.32) were not associated with AKI and did not change the model. CONCLUSION: In conclusion, we did not find any association between complement activation or inflammatory markers and AKI. Proportion of patients with AKI during severe SARS-CoV-2 infection is higher than previously reported and associated with outcome.