Enterococcal bloodstream infections in critically ill patients with COVID-19: a case series
Daniele Roberto Giacobbe, Laura Labate, Stefania Tutino, Federico Baldi, Chiara Russo, Chiara Robba, Lorenzo Ball, Silvia Dettori, Anna Marchese, Chiara Dentone, Laura Magnasco, Francesca Crea, Edward Willison, Federica Briano, Denise Battaglini, Nicolò Patroniti, Iole Brunetti, Paolo Pelosi, Matteo Bassetti
Abstract
BACKGROUND: An unexpected high prevalence of enterococcal bloodstream infection (BSI) has been observed in critically ill patients with COVID-19 in the intensive care unit (ICU). MATERIALS AND METHODS: The primary objective was to describe the characteristics of ICU-acquired enterococcal BSI in critically ill patients with COVID-19. A secondary objective was to exploratorily assess the predictors of 30-day mortality in critically ill COVID-19 patients with ICU-acquired enterococcal BSI. RESULTS: = .021). CONCLUSIONS: The cumulative incidence of enterococcal BSI is high in critically ill patients with COVID-19. Our results suggest a crucial role of the severity of the acute clinical conditions, to which both the underlying viral pneumonia and the enterococcal BSI may contribute, in majorly influencing the outcome.KEY MESSAGESThe cumulative incidence of enterococcal BSI is high in critically ill patients with COVID-19.The crude 30-day mortality of enterococcal BSI in critically ill patients with COVID-19 may be higher than 40%.There could be a crucial role of the severity of the acute clinical conditions, to which both the underlying viral pneumonia and the enterococcal BSI may contribute, in majorly influencing the outcome.