Risk Factors for Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19)-Associated Pulmonary Aspergillosis in Critically Ill Patients: A Nationwide, Multicenter, Retrospective Cohort Study

Review Infectious Diseases

Comparing the clinical characteristics and outcomes of COVID-19-associate pulmonary aspergillosis (CAPA): a systematic review and meta-analysis

Woon Hean Chong et al.

Summary: Patients with CAPA are typically older with underlying COPD and received long-term corticosteroid treatment. Furthermore, CAPA is associated with higher SOFA scores, mortality, and earlier onset of ICU admission from illness onset.

INFECTION (2022)

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Article Immunology

Coronavirus Disease 2019-Associated Pulmonary Aspergillosis in Mechanically Ventilated Patients

Nitipong Permpalung et al.

Summary: COVID-19-associated pulmonary aspergillosis (CAPA) is a serious condition in critically ill patients. A retrospective cohort study was conducted on mechanically ventilated adult patients with COVID-19, and it was found that CAPA is associated with underlying pulmonary vascular and liver diseases. Patients with CAPA have worse outcomes, requiring longer time for improvement and longer hospital stays.

CLINICAL INFECTIOUS DISEASES (2022)

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Article Infectious Diseases

Risk factors and outcome of pulmonary aspergillosis in critically ill coronavirus disease 2019 patients-a multinational observational study by the European Confederation of Medical Mycology

Juergen Prattes et al.

Summary: Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19)-associated pulmonary aspergillosis (CAPA) is a common complication among critically ill COVID-19 patients in ICU. It is more prevalent in older patients, those receiving invasive ventilation, and those receiving tocilizumab treatment. CAPA is an independent predictor of ICU mortality.

CLINICAL MICROBIOLOGY AND INFECTION (2022)

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Article Immunology

Epidemiology of Invasive Pulmonary Aspergillosis Among Intubated Patients With COVID-19: A Prospective Study

Michele Bartoletti et al.

Summary: The study showed a high incidence of CAPA among critically ill COVID-19 patients, and its occurrence seems to alter the natural course of the disease.

CLINICAL INFECTIOUS DISEASES (2021)

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Article Immunology

A National Strategy to Diagnose Coronavirus Disease 2019-Associated Invasive Fungal Disease in the Intensive Care Unit

P. Lewis White et al.

Summary: Invasive fungal disease is common in critically ill COVID-19 patients, with 26.7% incidence rate including 14.1% aspergillosis and 12.6% yeast infections. Mortality rates are reduced with antifungal therapy, while corticosteroid use and history of chronic respiratory disease increase the likelihood of aspergillosis. Strategic diagnostic screening and antifungal prophylaxis may enhance the management of COVID-19 patients.

CLINICAL INFECTIOUS DISEASES (2021)

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Article Infectious Diseases

Risk factors associated with COVID-19-associated pulmonary aspergillosis in ICU patients: a French multicentric retrospective cohort

Sarah Delliere et al.

Summary: Invasive pulmonary aspergillosis (IPA) is a relatively common complication in severe COVID-19 patients, leading to increased mortality. Treatment with azithromycin for >= 3 days is associated with higher risk of developing probable IPA, while high-dose dexamethasone may also play a role in IPA occurrence.

CLINICAL MICROBIOLOGY AND INFECTION (2021)

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Review Critical Care Medicine

Severe COVID-19: Immunosuppression or Hyperinflammation?

Ye Liu et al.

Summary: Severe COVID-19 patients exhibit paradoxical immune states, with the virus attacking the immune system leading to immunosuppression and heightened inflammation. Understanding the immune status in COVID-19 can aid in treatment strategies and therapy selection.

SHOCK (2021)

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Article Medicine, General & Internal

Effect of 12 mg vs 6 mg of Dexamethasone on the Number of Days Alive Without Life Support in Adults With COVID-19 and Severe Hypoxemia The COVID STEROID 2 Randomized Trial

Marie W. Munch et al.

Summary: In patients with COVID-19 and severe hypoxemia, the use of 12 mg/d of dexamethasone compared to 6 mg/d did not lead to a statistically significant difference in the number of days alive without life support at 28 days. The study may have lacked the power to detect a significant effect.

JAMA-JOURNAL OF THE AMERICAN MEDICAL ASSOCIATION (2021)

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Article Multidisciplinary Sciences

Invasive pulmonary aspergillosis in critically ill patients with severe COVID-19 pneumonia: Results from the prospective AspCOVID-19 study

Tobias Lahmer et al.

Summary: This study evaluated the incidence, risk factors, and outcome of invasive pulmonary aspergillosis (IPA) in critically ill patients with severe COVID-19 pneumonia. Results showed that COVID-19 was independently associated with IPA, which had a high mortality rate. Standardized screening and diagnostic approaches can aid in early detection of IPA in affected patients.

PLOS ONE (2021)

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Review Immunology

Impact of the Delta variant on vaccine efficacy and response strategies

Lianlian Bian et al.

Summary: The Delta variant has caused a new wave of COVID-19 epidemic, requiring a higher proportion of the population to be vaccinated to reduce disease burden. Existing vaccines have shown decreased protective efficacy against the Delta variant, with a decline in neutralizing antibody titers post-vaccination. Accelerating vaccine coverage and intervention measures like mask-wearing are effective ways to control the spread of the Delta variant.

EXPERT REVIEW OF VACCINES (2021)

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Article Environmental Sciences

Projecting the Impact of SARS-CoV-2 Variants and the Vaccination Program on the Fourth Wave of the COVID-19 Pandemic in South Korea

Eunha Shim

Summary: This study evaluated the impact of the COVID-19 vaccination program in South Korea on reducing disease burden, with projections showing significant reductions in infection rates, ICU hospitalizations, and deaths. The vaccination program is expected to have a strong impact, especially in the 50-59 age group. However, the emergence of the Delta variant may affect the effectiveness of the vaccines, making achieving herd immunity challenging.

INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH AND PUBLIC HEALTH (2021)

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Article Medicine, General & Internal

Clinical Features of Adult COVID-19 Patients without Risk Factors before and after the Nationwide SARS- CoV-2 B.1.617.2 (Delta)-variant Outbreak in Korea: Experience from Gyeongsangnam-do

Byung-Han Ryu et al.

Summary: Hospitalization rates were increased in adult COVID-19 patients during the delta variant nationwide outbreak, suggesting that the delta variant may be more virulent than previous lineages.

JOURNAL OF KOREAN MEDICAL SCIENCE (2021)

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Article Immunology

COVID-19-Associated Pulmonary Aspergillosis, March-August 2020

Jon Salmanton-Garcia et al.

Summary: This study found that most patients with coronavirus disease-associated pulmonary aspergillosis (CAPA) are diagnosed shortly after admission, with the majority being treated in the ICU. Azole-resistant strains of Aspergillus fumigatus were common in patients, and voriconazole was the main treatment choice. The overall mortality rate was approximately 52.2%, with about one third of deaths attributed to CAPA.

EMERGING INFECTIOUS DISEASES (2021)

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Article Immunology