Understanding clinical outcomes and factors influencing mortality in intensive care unit patients with COVID-19-associated candidemia

Background: During the COVID pandemic, research has shown an increase in candidemia cases following severe COVID infection and the identification of risk factors associated with candidemia. However, there is a lack of studies that specifically explore clinical outcomes and mortality rates related to candidemia after COVID infection. Objectives: The aim of this international study was to evaluate the clinical outcomes and identify factors influencing mortality in patients who developed candidemia during their COVID infection. Patients/Methods: This study included adult patients (18 years of age or older) admitted to the intensive care unit (ICU) and diagnosed with COVID-associated candidemia (CAC). The research was conducted through ID-IRI network and in collaboration with 34 medical centres across 18 countries retrospectively, spanning from the beginning of the COVID pandemic until December 2021. Results: A total of 293 patients diagnosed with CAC were included. The median age of the patients was 67, and 63% of them were male. The most common Candida species detected was C. albicans. The crude 30-day mortality rate was recorded at 62.4%. The logistic regression analysis identified several factors significantly impacting mortality, including age (odds ratio [OR] 1.04, 95% confidence interval [CI] 1.02–1.07, p <.0005), SOFA score (OR 1.307, 95% CI 1.17–1.45, p <.0005), invasive mechanical ventilation (OR 7.95, 95% CI 1.44–43.83, p <.017) and duration of mechanical ventilation (OR 0.98, 95% CI 0.96–0.99, p <.020). Conclusions: By recognising these prognostic factors, medical professionals can customise their treatment approaches to offer more targeted care, leading to improved patient outcomes and higher survival rates for individuals with COVID-associated candidemia.