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High Rates of Bacterial Pulmonary Co-Infections and Superinfections Identified by Multiplex PCR among Critically Ill

Regev Cohen1,2, Frida Babushkin2, Talya Finn1,2

  • 1Adelson School of Medicine, Ariel University, Ariel 4077625, Israel.

Microorganisms
|December 24, 2021
PubMed
Abstract

Insights

Critically ill COVID-19 patients frequently developed hospital-acquired pneumonia (HAP), including community-acquired pneumonia (CAP) and ventilator-associated pneumonia (VAP). Ventilator-associated pneumonia was linked to increased mortality and longer hospital stays.

Area of Science:

  • Critical Care Medicine
  • Infectious Diseases
  • Pulmonology

Background:

  • The prevalence and impact of bacterial pulmonary infections in critically ill COVID-19 patients are not well-defined.
  • Understanding co-infections and superinfections is crucial for managing severe respiratory illness.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To determine the incidence and characteristics of community-acquired pneumonia (CAP) and ventilator-associated pneumonia (VAP) in ventilated COVID-19 patients.
  • To investigate the association between pulmonary infections and patient outcomes.

Main Methods:

  • A retrospective analysis of ventilated COVID-19 patients from March 2020 to March 2021.
  • Utilized BioFire® FilmArray® Pneumonia Panel for pathogen detection.
  • Defined CAP within 72 hours of hospitalization and VAP thereafter.

Main Results:

  • 148 tests from 93 patients revealed high rates: 17% CAP and 68% VAP.
  • Ventilator-associated pneumonia (VAP) patients were older, with longer hospital stays and higher mortality (51% vs. 10%).
  • Common pathogens included *H. influenzae*, *S. pneumoniae*, *M. catarrhalis*, *E. cloacae* (CAP), and *P. aeruginosa*, *S. aureus* (VAP).

Conclusions:

  • High rates of CAP and VAP were observed in critically ill COVID-19 patients.
  • Infections were caused by expected bacterial pathogens.
  • VAP diagnosis correlated with adverse patient outcomes, emphasizing the need for vigilant infection control.
Keywords:
COVID-19FimArrayPCRco-infectioncommunity-acquired pneumoniacritically illintensive-care unitsuperinfectionventilator-associated pneumonia

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