Scarce research has focused on cultural intrapersonal and interpersonal experiences of Latina women in higher education. The purpose of this qualitative study was to explore academic challenges, multiple identity navigation, and influences of Latino cultural and family value of Latina women in graduate programs utilizing an Intersectional Latina Critical Race Theory Lens. This study utilized a case study design and in-depth interviews with five Latina women in graduate school between the ages of 18-40. Ethnicities included Mexican/White, Chilean, Columbian, Puerto Rican, and Dominican. Through thematic analysis, four themes developed (a) challenges in representation and isolation, (b) experiences of stereotypes and discrimination, (c) lack of social and familial support, and (d) gender-role expectations. Implications and future directions will be discussed to provide greater support and understanding for Latinas in academia. Public Significance StatementUnderstanding experiences of Latina graduate student's complex integrating identities allows for development in retention, recruitment, and awareness of an underserved population in higher education.

Around one-third of patients diagnosed with COVID-19 develop a severe illness that requires admission to the Intensive Care Unit (ICU). In clinical practice, clinicians have learned that patients admitted to the ICU due to severe COVID-19 frequently develop ventilator-associated lower respiratory tract infections (VA-LRTI). This study aims to describe the clinical characteristics, the factors associated with VA-LRTI, and its impact on clinical outcomes in patients with severe COVID-19. This was a multicentre, observational cohort study conducted in ten countries in Latin America and Europe. We included patients with confirmed rtPCR for SARS-CoV-2 requiring ICU admission and endotracheal intubation. Only patients with a microbiological and clinical diagnosis of VA-LRTI were included. Multivariate Logistic regression analyses and Random Forest were conducted to determine the risk factors for VA-LRTI and its clinical impact in patients with severe COVID-19. In our study cohort of 3287 patients, VA-LRTI was diagnosed in 28.8% [948/3287]. The cumulative incidence of ventilator-associated pneumonia (VAP) was 18.6% [610/3287], followed by ventilator-associated tracheobronchitis (VAT) 10.3% [338/3287]. A total of 1252 bacteria species were isolated. The most frequently isolated pathogens were Pseudomonas aeruginosa (21.2% [266/1252]), followed by Klebsiella pneumoniae (19.1% [239/1252]) and Staphylococcus aureus (15.5% [194/1,252]). The factors independently associated with the development of VA-LRTI were prolonged stay under invasive mechanical ventilation, AKI during ICU stay, and the number of comorbidities. Regarding the clinical impact of VA-LRTI, patients with VAP had an increased risk of hospital mortality (OR [95% CI] of 1.81 [1.40–2.34]), while VAT was not associated with increased hospital mortality (OR [95% CI] of 1.34 [0.98–1.83]). VA-LRTI, often with difficult-to-treat bacteria, is frequent in patients admitted to the ICU due to severe COVID-19 and is associated with worse clinical outcomes, including higher mortality. Identifying risk factors for VA-LRTI might allow the early patient diagnosis to improve clinical outcomes.Trial registration: This is a prospective observational study; therefore, no health care interventions were applied to participants, and trial registration is not applicable.