Discontinuation of antimicrobial stewardship programs (ASPs) and increased antibiotic use were described during SARS-CoV-2 pandemic. In order to measure COVID-19 impact on ASPs in a setting of high multidrug resistance organisms (MDRO) prevalence, a qualitative survey was designed. In July 2021, eighteen ID Units were asked to answer a questionnaire about their hospital characteristics, ASPs implementation status before the pandemic and impact of SARS-CoV-2 pandemic on ASPs after the 1st and 2nd pandemic waves in Italy. Nine ID centres (50%) reported a reduction of ASPs and in 7 cases (38.9%) these were suspended. After the early pandemic waves, the proportion of centres that restarted their ASPs was higher among the ID centres where antimicrobial stewardship was formally identified as a priority objective (9/11, 82%, vs 2/7, 28%). SARS-CoV-2 pandemic had a severe impact in ASPs in a region highly affected by COVID-19 and antimicrobial resistance but weaknesses related to the pre-existent ASPs might have played a role.

Background: Early treatment with remdesivir (RMD) or monoclonal antibodies (mAbs) could be a valuable tool in patients at risk of severe COVID-19 with unsatisfactory responses to vaccination. We aim to assess the safety and clinical outcomes of these treatments among immunocompromised subjects. Methods: We retrospectively reviewed all nonhospitalized patients who received an early treatment with RMD or mAbs for COVID-19, from 25 November 2021 to 25 January 2022, in a large tertiary hospital. Outcomes included frequency of adverse drug reaction (ADR), duration of symptoms and molecular swab positivity, emergency department access, hospital or intensive care unit admission, and mortality in the 14 days following treatment administration. Results: Early treatments were administered to 143 patients, 106/143 (74.1%) immunocompromised, including 41 solid organ and 6 hematopoietic stem cell transplant recipients. Overall, 23/143 (16.1%) subjects reported ADRs. Median time from treatment start to SARS-CoV-2 nasopharyngeal swab negativity and symptom resolution was 10 (IQR 6–16) and 2.5 days (IQR 1.0–6.0), respectively, without differences between immunocompromised and nonimmunocompromised patients. In the 14 days after treatment administration, 5/143 patients (3.5%) were hospitalized and one died as a result of causes related to COVID-19, all of them were immunocompromised. Conclusions: RMD and mAbs have minimal ADRs and favourable outcomes in immunocompromised patients.