308. Secondary Infections in Patients Requiring Extracorporeal Membrane Oxygenation (ECMO) for Severe Acute Respiratory Distress Syndrome (ARDS) due to COVID-19 Pneumonia (PNA)
Authors: Rivosecchi Ryan , Viehman J Alex , Thorngren Christina K , Shields Ryan K , Silveira Fernanda P , Silveira Fernanda P , Kwak Eun Jeong , Volpe Peter , Jagadeesan Vidya , Clancy Cornelius J , Nguyen Minh Hong , Samanta Palash 
Published: December 2021

Background

Rescue ECMO has been used worldwide in patients (pts) with ARDS caused by COVID-19. Bacterial super-infections affect 3.5-14.3% of hospitalized pts with COVID-19. Pts requiring ECMO may be at an increased risk of infection due to their severity of illness, gut translocation and ECMO impact on host immunity.

Methods

This was a retrospective review of pts requiring ECMO for COVID-19 from April 2020-2021 at a single center. Strict definitions of infections (including ventilator-associated PNA, VAP) were in accordance with CDC criteria.

Results

43 ECMO pts with 1065 ECMO days were evaluated. Median age was 53 yrs (range: 21-62) and median BMI was 36.2 (range: 19.4-75.8). 70% were men and 65% were white. 37 patients (86%) experienced a total of 40 infectious episodes with a median onset from ECMO cannulation to first infection of 10.5d (range: 4-50). Median SOFA and SAPSII scores at time of infection were 12 (6-20) and 63 (30-90), respectively. PNA was the most common infection (78%, with 19% of cases complicated by bacteremia and 3% by empyema) (Fig. 1). The most common organisms isolated were Enterobacterales (37%), S. aureus (25%) and P. aeruginosa (16%) (Fig. 2). Only 2% of all organisms were multi-drug resistant. 3 pts had fungal infections (1 candidemia, 2 aspergillus PNA). Duration of ECMO was significantly longer for infected pts (26d, range: 5-92d) vs (11d, range: 3-24d), p=.01. 95% of infected pts had received steroids vs. 67% of uninfected pts, p=0.09. Treatment success at 1 week was 50%, and 24% and 40% of pts had recurrent infections and persistent/recurrent organisms in clinical cultures, respectively. S. aureus (54%) and Enterobacterales (26%) were associated with persistent or recurrent clinical cultures, requiring prolonged antimicrobial therapy. Mortality rate at 30 days was 65% and was significantly higher for pts with infection than those without (67% vs 33%, p=.02).

Conclusion

Super-infection (most commonly PNA) occurred in almost all COVID-19 pts requiring ECMO for &gt;4 days, and was a significant risk factor for death. Recurrent infections among survivors were common, especially when caused by Enterbacterales or S. aureus. Super-infection and mortality rates of ARDS pts on ECMO for COVID-19 were worse than for ARDS pts on ECMO for influenza at our center.

Disclosures

Ryan K. Shields, PharmD, MS, Shionogi (Consultant, Research Grant or Support) Fernanda P. Silveira, MD, MS, FIDSA, Ansun (Individual(s) Involved: Self): Grant/Research Support; Novartis (Individual(s) Involved: Self): Grant/Research Support; Qiagen (Individual(s) Involved: Self): Grant/Research Support; Shire (Individual(s) Involved: Self): Advisor or Review Panel member, Grant/Research Support; SlieaGen (Individual(s) Involved: Self): Grant/Research Support; Whiscon (Individual(s) Involved: Self): Grant/Research Support Cornelius J. Clancy, MD, Merck (Grant/Research Support)