ROLE OF PROCALCITONIN IN PATIENTS WITH COVID-19 AND HOSPITAL-ACQUIRED PNEUMONIA

ABSTRACT

SESSION TITLE Imaging Across the Care Spectrum SESSION TYPE Rapid Fire Original Inv PRESENTED ON 10/19/2022 1115 am - 1215 pm PURPOSE: Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) caused by severe acute respiratory coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) has led to approximately 474 million cases and a devastating 6 million deaths worldwide, to date. Despite a relatively low incidence of secondary bacterial infections in COVID-19 patients, the frequency of empiric treatment with antibiotics is as high as 60 to 100%, highlighting a lack of stringent antibiotic stewardship. This promotes the development of multidrug resistant microorganisms. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the utility of the procalcitonin (PCT) biomarker in identifying the development of hospital acquired pneumonia (HAP) in COVID-19 patients. METHODS: We conducted a single center retrospective study of COVID-19 patients admitted between March 2020 to March 2021. COVID-19 patients who developed HAP during their index hospitalization were compared to those who did not develop HAP. Included in the study were COVID-19 positive patients who received empiric antibiotics for < 48 hours and had at least one PCT value ≥ 48 hours since admission. Exclusion criteria included patients with conditions that could affect PCT values including chronic kidney disease stage 5 and above, malignancy and elevated bilirubin levels. Patients with positive microbiology data < 48 hours of admission and those receiving antibiotic therapy prior to admission were excluded as well. All data was analyzed via SPSS. RESULTS: The median age of the cohort was 65 years. There was no difference in demographics in those who had HAP compared to those who did not. Median Charlson comorbidity index (CCI) (3,2;p=0.6) PCT (0.16, 0.13;p=0.91), ferritin (707, 659.5;p=0.48), and C-reactive protein (CRP) (10.56, 6.78;p=0.19) within 48 hours of admission did not differ significantly between the groups either. Notably, PCT (0.09,0.47;p=0.01) and CRP (3.37, 6.59, p=0.01) 48 hours after admission were significantly higher in COVID-19 patients who developed HAP. However, when PCT and CRP were included in multivariate logistic regression, neither remained a significant predictor of HAP. The odds ratios of PCT and CRP 48 hours after admission were 1.25 (95% CI0.85-1.8;p=0.27) and 1.08 (95% CI0.95-1.23;p=0.22), respectively. CONCLUSIONS: Our study did not show a significant difference in the median CCI, PCT, CRP and ferritin obtained within 48 hours of admission in patients who developed HAP versus those who did not. However, PCT and CRP obtained 48 hours after admission, were higher in patients who developed HAP. CLINICAL IMPLICATIONS The data support the use of PCT and CRP as potential tools to predict the development of concomitant HAP in COVID-19 patients and as guides for antibiotic stewardship in this patient population. DISCLOSURES No relevant relationships by Mythri Anil Kumar No relevant relationships by Tara McLaughlin No relevant relationships by Raj Parikh No relevant relationships by Meher Singha