Severe COVID‐19 patients in ICU are at high risk for candidemia due to exposure to multiple risk factors for candidemia. We aimed to compare the incidence of candidemia in ICU patients with and without COVID‐19, and to investigate epidemiologic and clinical characteristics of candidemia patients and risk factors for mortality in candidemia patients. This retrospective study was conducted in patients followed in the ICUs of Ankara City Hospital for 2 years, divided into pre‐pandemic and pandemic periods. The incidence (event per 1000 patient‐days) and epidemiology of candidemia, clinical and laboratory characteristics of patients were compared in COVID‐19 and non‐COVID‐19 groups. Candidemia incidence was higher in the COVID‐19 group (2.16, 95% CI 1.77–2.60) than the non‐COVID‐19 group (1.06, 95% CI 0.89–0.125) ( p < .001). A total of 236 candidemia episodes (105 in COVID‐19 patients and 131 in non‐COVID‐19 patients) were detected during the study periods. COVID‐19 cases had a higher rate of corticosteroid use (63.8% vs. 9.9%, p < .001). Epidemiology of candidemia and antifungal susceptibility were similar. Candidemia developed 2 weeks earlier in COVID‐19 groups and resulted in higher mortality (92.5% vs. 79.4%, p .005). One‐third of candidemia patients died before receiving any antifungal treatment, and this rate was higher in the COVID‐19 group. In multivariate logistic regression analysis, corticosteroid use, presence of sepsis and age older than 65 years were independent risk factors for mortality in candidemia patients. Candidemia with high mortality is a more serious problem for COVID‐19 patients due to its increased incidence, earlier occurrence and a higher rate of mortality.

the causative agent was identified as a new Coronavirus (2019-nCoV), which had not previously been detected in humans [1]. Later, the name of 2019-nCoV disease was accepted as COVID-19, and the virus was named SARS-CoV-2 because of its close resemblance to SARS CoV. After this date, the number of patients increased rapidly, and the WHO declared an "International Public Health Emergency" regarding the coronavirus outbreak at its meeting on January 30, 2020.Although the world was caught unprepared to the sudden emergence and rapid spread of the COVID-19 outbreak, Turkey managed to postpone the emergence of the disease within its borders through the implementation of effective preventive measures until March 11, 2020, when the first case was detected. After cases seen in China, Italy, and Spain starting from January, Turkey executed a meticulous monitoring and evaluation process to decide, implement, and follow up with comprehensive and timely measures. These measures have given time to be prepared for both the community and the healthcare system in this pandemic. Furthermore, since the beginning of the pandemic, Turkish citizens infected with COVID-19 have Background/aim: The aim of this study is to evaluate the epidemiological and clinical characteristics and parameters that determined the clinical course and prognosis of the COVID-19 patients admitted to Ankara City Hospital during the first month of the pandemic in Turkey.Materials and methods: SARS-CoV-2 PCR positive patients who were hospitalized between March 10 and April 10, 2020 were included.Results: Among 222 patients, mean age was higher in severe acute respiratory illness (SARI)/critical disease group (P < 0.001). Median time from illness onset to admission and presence of comorbidity, especially coronary artery disease and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, were significantly higher in the SARI/critical disease group (P < 0.05). Cough and fever were the most common symptoms, while anosmia and loss of taste were observed in 8.6% and 7.7% patients, respectively. The mortality rate was 5.4%. A high neutrophil/lymphocyte ratio; low lymphocyte, monocyte, and platelet count; elevated liver enzymes; low GFR; and high levels of muscle enzymes, ferritin, and IL-6 on admission were found to be associated with SARI/critical disease (P < 0.05). Bilateral ground-glass opacity and patchy infiltration were more frequently seen in the SARI/critical disease group (P < 0.001). Patients older than 65 years had an 8-fold increased risk for development of SARI/critical disease. Conclusion:This cohort study regarding COVID-19 cases in Turkey reveals that older age, presence of comorbidity, bilateral infiltration on CT, high neutrophil/lymphocyte ratio, low monocyte and platelet count, elevated liver enzymes, low GFR, high levels of muscle enzymes, and high levels of ferritin and IL-6 on admission are predictors of SARI and severe disease.

Aims and objectives Determination of the effect of deep breathing exercise applied with Triflo on dyspnoea, anxiety and quality of life in patients who are hospitalized for COVID‐19 and have dyspnoea. Backround COVID‐19 is a viral infection that can cause severe pulmonary disease. Deep breathing exercise with Triflo in patients with COVID‐19 may contribute to the reduction/elimination of dyspnoea and anxiety, and improvement of respiratory and quality of life. Design The study was a randomized controlled clinical trial and conducted in accordance with the Consolidated Standards of Reporting Trials (CONSORT) 2010 guidelines. Methods The study was conducted in the clinic of COVID‐19 of a tertiary hospital. A total of 44 eligible participants were enrolled from January to April 2021. Primary outcomes included oxygen saturation in the blood, respiratory assessment and dyspnoea level. Secondary outcomes included anxiety and quality of life. In the statistical analysis of the data, the independent sample t‐test, Wilcoxon test, Mann–Whitney U test and Spearman correlation were used to examine the intervention effect on primary outcomes and secondary outcomes, according to numbers, percentage, mean, standard deviation and conformity to normal distribution. Results It was determined that the patients in the deep breathing group had a statistically significant shorter hospitalization time (3.04 ± 0.65), higher SpO2 level (97.05 ± 1.46) and higher quality of life (77.82 ± 6.77) compared with the patients in the usual care group (p < 0.05). Conclusions Deep breathing exercise with Triflo increases the SpO2 level and quality of life in patients with COVID‐19 and contributes to a decrease in dyspnoea and anxiety levels. Moreover, the duration of hospital stay is shortened in patients who are applied deep breathing exercise with Triflo. Relevance to clinical practice With deep breathing exercise applied with Triflo, respiratory rate reaches normal limits in a short time, SpO2 levels increase significantly, and quality of life improves significantly in patients with COVID‐19 pneumonia. Clinical trials registration number https://clinicaltrials.gov; NCT04696562.

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Background Early identification of severe COVID-19 patients who will need intensive care unit (ICU) follow-up and providing rapid, aggressive supportive care may reduce mortality and provide optimal use of medical resources. We aimed to develop and validate a nomogram to predict severe COVID-19 cases that would need ICU follow-up based on available and accessible patient values. Methods Patients hospitalized with laboratory-confirmed COVID-19 between March 15, 2020, and June 15, 2020, were enrolled in this retrospective study with 35 variables obtained upon admission considered. Univariate and multivariable logistic regression models were constructed to select potential predictive parameters using 1000 bootstrap samples. Afterward, a nomogram was developed with 5 variables selected from multivariable analysis. The nomogram model was evaluated by Area Under the Curve (AUC) and bias-corrected Harrell's C-index with 95% confidence interval, Hosmer–Lemeshow Goodness-of-fit test, and calibration curve analysis. Results Out of a total of 1022 patients, 686 cases without missing data were used to construct the nomogram. Of the 686, 104 needed ICU follow-up. The final model includes oxygen saturation, CRP, PCT, LDH, troponin as independent factors for the prediction of need for ICU admission. The model has good predictive power with an AUC of 0.93 (0.902–0.950) and a bias-corrected Harrell's C-index of 0.91 (0.899–0.947). Hosmer–Lemeshow test p-value was 0.826 and the model is well-calibrated (p = 0.1703). Conclusion We developed a simple, accessible, easy-to-use nomogram with good distinctive power for severe illness requiring ICU follow-up. Clinicians can easily predict the course of COVID-19 and decide the procedure and facility of further follow-up by using clinical and laboratory values of patients available upon admission.