Table 1.
Demographics and clinical characteristics of COVID-19 patients (N = 29) with infection caused by hvKp
| Characteristic | Value |
|---|---|
| Age, years, median (IQR) | 73 (65.5–77.5) |
| Male sex, n (%) | 25 (86.2) |
| Coexisting comorbidities, n (%) | |
| COPD | 3 (10.3) |
| Diabetes mellitus | 5 (17.2) |
| Cardiovascular disease | 20 (68) |
| Solid cancer | 3 (10.3) |
| Ward of hospitalization (at time of infection), n (%) | |
| Intensive care unit | 21 (72.4) |
| Sub-intensive care unit | 3 (10.3) |
| Medical ward | 5 (17.2) |
| Charlson Comorbidity Index, median (IQR) | 3 (3–5) |
| SOFA score (at time of hvKp infection), median (IQR) | 8.5 (0.75–11.25) |
| Septic shock (at time of hvKp infection), n (%) | 8 (27.6) |
| Previous antibiotic therapy, n (%) | 26 (89.7) |
| Source of infection, n (%) | |
| Bloodstream infection | 15 (51.7) |
| Ventilator-associated pneumonia | 8 (27.6) |
| Urinary tract infection | 6 (20.7) |
| Concomitant medications, n (%) | |
| Remdesivir | 6 (20.7) |
| Steroids | 27 (93.1) |
| Dexamethasone 6 mg daily | 8 (27.6) |
| Steroids high dosea | 19 (65.5) |
| Low-molecular-weight heparin | 29 (100) |
| Immunomodulatory drugsb | 7 (24.1) |
| Respiratory support (at time of hvKp infection), n (%) | |
| Invasive mechanical ventilation | 21 (72.4) |
| Non-invasive mechanical ventilation | 3 (10.3) |
| Supplementary oxygen therapy | 5 (17.2) |
| Time from admission to hvKp infection, days, median (IQR) | 17 (9.5–20) |
| Time from hvKp infection to death, days, median (IQR) | 5.5 (2–22.5) |
| 30 day mortality, n (%)c | 14 (48.3) |
COPD, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease; hvKp, hypervirulent K. pneumoniae.
a
High dose of steroids was defined as use of 1 mg/kg/day of methylprednisolone or equivalents
b
Immunomodulatory drugs included baricitinib or tocilizumab.
c
30 day mortality was defined as occurrence of death within 30 days from diagnosis of hvKp infection.