Objectives
Information on the recently COVID‐19‐associated pulmonary aspergillosis (CAPA) entity is scarce. We describe eight CAPA patients, compare them to colonised ICU patients with coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID‐19), and review the published literature from Western countries.
Methods
Prospective study (March to May, 2020) that included all COVID‐19 patients admitted to a tertiary hospital. Modified AspICU and European Organization for Research and Treatment of Cancer/Mycoses Study Group (EORTC/MSG) criteria were used.
Results
COVID‐19‐associated pulmonary aspergillosis was diagnosed in eight patients (3.3% of 239 ICU patients), mostly affected non‐immunocompromised patients (75%) with severe acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS) receiving corticosteroids. Diagnosis was established after a median of 15 days under mechanical ventilation. Bronchoalveolar lavage was performed in two patients with positive
Aspergillus fumigatus
cultures and galactomannan (GM) index. Serum GM was positive in 4/8 (50%). Thoracic CT scan findings fulfilled EORTC/MSG criteria in one case. Isavuconazole was used in 4/8 cases. CAPA‐related mortality was 100% (8/8). Compared with colonised patients, CAPA subjects were administered tocilizumab more often (100% vs. 40%,
p
= .04), underwent longer courses of antibacterial therapy (13 vs. 5 days,
p
= .008), and had a higher all‐cause mortality (100% vs. 40%,
p
= .04). We reviewed 96 similar cases from recent publications: 59 probable CAPA (also putative according modified AspICU), 56 putative cases and 13 colonisations according AspICU algorithm; according EORTC/MSG six proven and two probable. Overall, mortality in the reviewed series was 56.3%.
Conclusions
COVID‐19‐associated pulmonary aspergillosis must be considered a serious and potentially life‐threatening complication in patients with severe COVID‐19 receiving immunosuppressive treatment.
11509 Background: Older patients have increased risk of toxicity from chemotherapy. The purpose of this study was to analyse predictive factors for developing grade 3-5 toxicity in older patients treated with chemotherapy. Methods: This prospective multicenter study included 500 cancer patients ≥ 70 years between Feb 2014 and Jun 2018. A prechemotherapy assessment including sociodemographics, tumor/treatment variables, laboratory test results, and geriatric assessment variables (function, comorbidity, cognition, psychological state, social activity/support, and nutritional status) was performed. Logistic regression was used to examine the association between these factors and the development of grade 3-5 toxicity. Results: Mean age of the patients was 77 years (70-92), ECOG PS 0/1/2: 25%/63%/12%. 223 (45%) had a primary dose reduction.167 (33%) patients developed grade 3-5 toxicity (28% grade 3, 5% grade 4, 1% grade 5). Univariate analysis found a higher risk of grade 3-5 toxicity in patients with creatinine clearance ≤ 60 mL/min, IADL ≤7, VES13 ≥ 6, and the administration of standard chemotherapy doses. In multivariable analysis, only the chemotherapy dose (odds ratio [OR] 1.179; 95% confidence interval [CI] 1.215–2.655) and creatinine clearance (odds ratio [OR] 0.989; 95% confidence interval [CI] 0.981–0.997) were independently associated with toxicity. Conclusions: Renal function and chemotherapy dose were significant predictors of grade 3-5 toxicity among older patients treated with chemotherapy.
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