Purpose: To accommodate the unprecedented number of critically ill patients with pneumonia caused by coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) expansion of the capacity of intensive care unit (ICU) to clinical areas not previously used for critical care was necessary. We describe the global burden of COVID-19 admissions and the clinical and organizational characteristics associated with outcomes in critically ill COVID-19 patients.Methods: Multicenter, international, point prevalence study, including adult patients with SARS-CoV-2 infection confirmed by polymerase chain reaction (PCR) and a diagnosis of COVID-19 admitted to ICU between February 15th and May 15th, 2020.Results: 4994 patients from 280 ICUs in 46 countries were included. Included ICUs increased their total capacity from 4931 to 7630 beds, deploying personnel from other areas. Overall, 1986 (39.8%) patients were admitted to surge capacity beds. Invasive ventilation at admission was present in 2325 (46.5%) patients and was required during ICU stay in 85.8% of patients. 60-day mortality was 33.9% (IQR across units: 20%-50%) and ICU mortality 32.7%. Older age, invasive mechanical ventilation, and acute kidney injury (AKI) were associated with increased mortality. These associations were also confirmed specifically in mechanically ventilated patients. Admission to surge capacity beds was not associated with mortality, even after controlling for other factors.

Background The COVID-19 pandemic presented major challenges for critical care facilities worldwide. Infections which develop alongside or subsequent to viral pneumonitis are a challenge under sporadic and pandemic conditions; however, data have suggested that patterns of these differ between COVID-19 and other viral pneumonitides. This secondary analysis aimed to explore patterns of co-infection and intensive care unit-acquired infections (ICU-AI) and the relationship to use of corticosteroids in a large, international cohort of critically ill COVID-19 patients. Methods This is a multicenter, international, observational study, including adult patients with PCR-confirmed COVID-19 diagnosis admitted to ICUs at the peak of wave one of COVID-19 (February 15th to May 15th, 2020). Data collected included investigator-assessed co-infection at ICU admission, infection acquired in ICU, infection with multi-drug resistant organisms (MDRO) and antibiotic use. Frequencies were compared by Pearson’s Chi-squared and continuous variables by Mann–Whitney U test. Propensity score matching for variables associated with ICU-acquired infection was undertaken using R library MatchIT using the “full” matching method. Results Data were available from 4994 patients. Bacterial co-infection at admission was detected in 716 patients (14%), whilst 85% of patients received antibiotics at that stage. ICU-AI developed in 2715 (54%). The most common ICU-AI was bacterial pneumonia (44% of infections), whilst 9% of patients developed fungal pneumonia; 25% of infections involved MDRO. Patients developing infections in ICU had greater antimicrobial exposure than those without such infections. Incident density (ICU-AI per 1000 ICU days) was in considerable excess of reports from pre-pandemic surveillance. Corticosteroid use was heterogenous between ICUs. In univariate analysis, 58% of patients receiving corticosteroids and 43% of those not receiving steroids developed ICU-AI. Adjusting for potential confounders in the propensity-matched cohort, 71% of patients receiving corticosteroids developed ICU-AI vs 52% of those not receiving corticosteroids. Duration of corticosteroid therapy was also associated with development of ICU-AI and infection with an MDRO. Conclusions In patients with severe COVID-19 in the first wave, co-infection at admission to ICU was relatively rare but antibiotic use was in substantial excess to that indication. ICU-AI were common and were significantly associated with use of corticosteroids. Trial registration ClinicalTrials.gov: NCT04836065 (retrospectively registered April 8th 2021). Graphical abstract

Retinitis is the most frequent manifestation of Cytomegalovirus (CMV) disease in patients with HIV infection. The virus reaches the retina by hematogenous spread, therefore patients with serum CMV load are at increased risk of developing CMV retinitis. The evolution of retinitis without specific treatment causes irreversible visual loss. Proper treatment is essential for controlling the disease progression, prevention of relapses, and contralateral eye involvement.This report describes a 56-year-old white male who started a progressive decrease in visual acuity (VA) of the right eye, without pain or inflammatory signs. Initial fundoscopy identified a dispersed preretinal hemorrhage and yellowish exudates. For the hypothesis of CMV retinitis, serology for HIV was requested and the subsequent result was positive. Other opportunistic infections, as well as manifestations of CMV infection in other organs, were ruled out. The patient was discharged on valganciclovir and highly active antiretroviral therapy (HAART) with progressive improvement in retinal changes, but without full recovery from VA due to chronic vitritis and tractional retinal detachment. Slow recovery of lymphocyte populations and sustained decrease in viral load were observed.CMV retinitis as an initial and sole manifestation of HIV infection is rare and requires screening. The importance of this case lies in its rarity, since CMV retinitis was the only manifestation of CMV infection and the only opportunistic infection in this patient. Early diagnosis and initiation of targeted therapy decrease the morbidity associated with this infection.

Objective To analyze and compare COVID-19 patient characteristics, clinical management and outcomes between the peak and plateau periods of the first pandemic wave in Portugal. Methods This was a multicentric ambispective cohort study including consecutive severe COVID-19 patients between March and August 2020 from 16 Portuguese intensive care units. The peak and plateau periods, respectively, weeks 10 - 16 and 17 - 34, were defined. Results Five hundred forty-one adult patients with a median age of 65 [57 - 74] years, mostly male (71.2%), were included. There were no significant differences in median age (p = 0.3), Simplified Acute Physiology Score II (40 versus 39; p = 0.8), partial arterial oxygen pressure/fraction of inspired oxygen ratio (139 versus 136; p = 0.6), antibiotic therapy (57% versus 64%; p = 0.2) at admission, or 28-day mortality (24.4% versus 22.8%; p = 0.7) between the peak and plateau periods. During the peak period, patients had fewer comorbidities (1 [0 - 3] versus 2 [0 - 5]; p = 0.002) and presented a higher use of vasopressors (47% versus 36%; p < 0.001) and invasive mechanical ventilation (58.1 versus 49.2%; p < 0.001) at admission, prone positioning (45% versus 36%; p = 0.04), and hydroxychloroquine (59% versus 10%; p < 0.001) and lopinavir/ritonavir (41% versus 10%; p < 0.001) prescriptions. However, a greater use of high-flow nasal cannulas (5% versus 16%, p < 0.001) on admission, remdesivir (0.3% versus 15%; p < 0.001) and corticosteroid (29% versus 52%, p < 0.001) therapy, and a shorter ICU length of stay (12 days versus 8, p < 0.001) were observed during the plateau. Conclusion There were significant changes in patient comorbidities, intensive care unit therapies and length of stay between the peak and plateau periods of the first COVID-19 wave.

BackgroundThe COVID-19 pandemic represented a challenge for intensive care units (ICU) with overwhelming demand, heterogenous outcomes and clinical practices. To improve care a profound knowledge on severe COVID-19 patients during different time points is crucial. This data is still scarce. We aimed to analyze and compare COVID-19 patient demographics, clinical management, and outcomes between two periods from the first pandemic wave.MethodsWe performed a multicentric ambispective cohort study including severe COVID-19 patients between March and August 2020 from 16 Portuguese ICUs. A peak and a plateau period were defined, corresponding to weeks 10-16 and 17-34 of the first pandemic wave. All patients had SARS-CoV-2 pneumonia diagnosis and complete hospital follow-up.ResultsWe included 541 adult patients with a median age of 65 [57-74] years and mostly male (71.2%). Severe acute respiratory distress syndrome developed in 63.9% of cases. Overall, 28-day mortality rate was 23.7% with age and SAPSII (both p<0.001) as independent risk factors.Between peak and plateau periods there were no significant differences in age (65 vs. 66, p=0.6), SAPS II (40 vs. 39, p=0.8), PaO2/FiO2 ratio (139 vs. 136, p=0.6), and antibiotic therapy (57.2% vs. 63.8%, p=0.2) at admission, nor in 28-day mortality (24.4% vs. 22.8%, p=0.7). Adjuvant therapy with corticosteroids had no impact on 28-day mortality (26.9% vs. 22.5% without, p=0.4). The peak period included 53.8% of patients and they had less comorbidities (no comorbidities 29% vs. 36%, p=0.01), presented at admission a higher use of vasopressors (81% vs. 63%, p<0.001), invasive mechanical ventilation (58 vs 49%, p<0.001), prone positioning (60% vs 48%, p=0.009), and hydroxychloroquine (80.2% vs. 13.4%; p<0.001) and lopinavir/ritonavir (60.4% vs. 13.4%; p<0.001) prescription, as compared with the plateau period. In the plateau period, there was a greater use of high flow nasal canula (5% vs 16%, p<0.001) on admission, remdesivir (0.5% vs. 19.9%; p<0.001) and corticosteroid (39% vs. 61%, p<0.001) therapy, and a shorter ICU length-of-stay for survivors (12 days vs. 7, p<0.001).ConclusionThere were significant changes in patient comorbidities, therapies and ICU length-of-stay between peak and plateau periods of the first COVID-19 wave with similar 28-day mortality.