Fungemia in COVID‐19 ICU patients, a single medical center experience

A known proportion of patients who are admitted for the novel coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID‐19) requires intensive care unit (ICU) level of care. Prolonged ICU stay is a risk factor for the development of nosocomial candidemia. The current study aimed to investigate the incidence and risk factors associated with the development of nosocomial candidemia among patients admitted to the ICU for COVID‐19. Patients who developed nosocomial candidemia were identified, and their clinical course was reported. A 1:3 case control matching was used to identify non‐candidemia patients who served as controls. 89 patients were admitted to the ICU for COVID‐19 during the study period. The incidence of nosocomial candidemia was 8.9% (n = 8). Case‐control matching identified 24 patients with similar disease severity at the time of ICU admission. Median time to first isolation of yeast was 26 days. Candidemia patients reported longer median ICU stay than controls. (40 vs. 10 days, p = .004). In hospital death rates were comparable in both groups (38% vs. 54%, p = .548). Prolonged mechanical ventilation support was associated with the development of nosocomial candidemia. Highlights 1. The incidence of nosocomial candidemia was 8.9% over a median ICU stay of 25 days. 2. Prolonged mechanical ventilation time, and superimposed infection were risk factors for the development of candidemia. 3. High BMI was also associated with an increased risk for candidemia. 4. In‐hospital mortality was comparable between candidemia patients and controls.