Impact of Aspergillus spp. isolation in the first 24 hours of admission in critically ill patients with severe influenza virus pneumonia

Abstract

OBJECTIVE To determine the incidence and impact of Aspergillus spp. isolation (AI) on ICU mortality in critically ill patients with severe influenza pneumonia during the first 24h of admission. DESIGN Secondary analysis of an observational and prospective cohort study. SETTING ICUs voluntary participating in the Spanish severe Influenza pneumonia registry, between June 2009 and June 2019. PATIENTS Consecutive patients admitted to the ICU with diagnosis of severe influenza pneumonia, confirmed by real-time polymerase chain reaction. INTERVENTIONS None. MAIN VARIABLES OF INTEREST Incidence of AI in respiratory samples. Demographic variables, comorbidities, need for mechanical ventilation and the presence of shock according at admission. Acute Physiology and Chronic Health Evaluation II (APACHE II) scale calculated on ICU admission. RESULTS 3702 patients were analyzed in this study. AI incidence was 1.13% (n=42). Hematological malignancies (OR 4.39, 95% CI 1.92-10.04); HIV (OR 3.83, 95% CI 1.08-13.63), and other immunosuppression situations (OR 4.87, 95% CI 1.99-11.87) were factors independently associated with the presence of Aspergillus spp. The automatic CHAID decision tree showed that hematologic disease with an incidence of 3.3% was the most closely AI related variable. Hematological disease (OR 2.62 95% CI 1.95-3.51), immunosuppression (OR 2.05 95% CI 1.46-2.88) and AI (OR 3.24, 95% CI 1.60-6.53) were variables independently associated with ICU mortality. CONCLUSIONS Empirical antifungal treatment in our population may only be justified in immunocompromised patients. In moderate-high risk cases, active search for Aspergillus spp. should be implemented.