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Boyd S, Nseir S, Rodriguez A, Martin-Loeches I. Ventilator-associated pneumonia in critically ill patients with COVID-19 infection, a narrative review. ERJ Open Res 2022; 8:00046-2022. [PMID: 35891621 PMCID: PMC9080287 DOI: 10.1183/23120541.00046-2022] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/25/2022] [Accepted: 04/24/2022] [Indexed: 01/08/2023] Open
Abstract
COVID pneumonitis can cause patients to become critically ill. They may require intensive care and mechanical ventilation. Ventilator-associated pneumonia is a concern. This review aims to discuss the topic of ventilator-associated pneumonia in this group. Several reasons have been proposed to explain the elevated rates of VAP in critically ill COVID patients compared to non-COVID patients. Extrinsic factors include understaffing, lack of PPE and use of immunomodulating agents. Intrinsic factors include severe parenchymal damage, immune dysregulation, along with pulmonary vascular endothelial inflammation and thrombosis. The rate of VAP has been reported at 45.4%, with an ICU mortality rate of 42.7%. Multiple challenges to diagnosis exist. Other conditions such as acute respiratory distress syndrome, pulmonary oedema and atelectasis can present with similar features. Frequent growth of gram-negative bacteria has been shown in multiple studies, with particularly high rates of pseudomonas aeruginosa. The rate of invasive pulmonary aspergillosis has been reported at 4–30%. We would recommend the use of invasive techniques when possible. This will enable de-escalation of antibiotics as soon as possible, decreasing overuse. It is also important to keep other possible causes of ventilator-associated pneumonia in mind, such as COVID-19 associated pulmonary aspergillosis, cytomegalovirus, etc. Diagnostic tests such as galactomannan and B-D-glucan should be considered. These patients may face a long treatment course, with risk of re-infection, along with prolonged weaning, which carries its own long-term consequences.
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Szarpak L, Wisco J, Boyer R. How healthcare must respond to ventilator-associated pneumonia (VAP) in invasively mechanically ventilated COVID-19 patients. Am J Emerg Med 2021; 48:361-362. [PMID: 33653643 PMCID: PMC8501000 DOI: 10.1016/j.ajem.2021.01.074] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/22/2021] [Accepted: 01/26/2021] [Indexed: 12/31/2022] Open
Affiliation(s)
- Lukasz Szarpak
- Maria Sklodowska-Curie Bialystok Oncology Center, Bialystok, Poland.
| | - Jonathan Wisco
- Department of Anatomy and Neurobiology, Laboratory for Translational Anatomy of Degenerative Diseases and Developmental Disorders (TAD4), Boston University School of Medicine, Boston, MA, USA.
| | - Richard Boyer
- Department of Anesthesiology, Weill Cornell Medicine, New York, NY, USA.
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