A high frequency of Candida auris blood stream infections in COVID-19 patients admitted to intensive care units, North-western India: A case control study
Abstract Background The ongoing pandemic of COVID-19 has overwhelmed healthcare facilities raising an important novel concern of nosocomial transmission of Candida species in the intensive care units. Methods We evaluated the incidence and risk factors for development of candidemia in 2384 COVID-19 patients admitted during August 2020-January 2021 in ICUs of two hospitals (Delhi and Jaipur), India. A 1:2 case control matching was used to identify COVID-19 patients who did not develop candidemia as controls. Result A total of 33 patients developed candidemia accounting for an overall incidence of 1.4% over a median ICU stay of 24 days. A two-fold increase in the incidence of candidemia in COVID-19 versus non–COVID-19 patients was observed with an incidence rate of 14 and 15/1000 admissions in two ICUs. Candida auris was the predominant species (42%) followed by Candida tropicalis. Multivariable regression analysis revealed the use of tocilizumab, duration of ICU stay (24 vs. 14 days) and raised ferritin level as an independent predictor for the development of candidemia. Azole resistance was observed in C. auris and C. tropicalis harbouring mutations in the azole target ERG11 gene. MLST identified identical genotypes of C. tropicalis in COVID-19 patients raising concern of nosocomial transmission of resistant strains. Conclusion Secondary bacterial infections has been a concern with the use of tocilizumab. In this cohort of critically ill COVID-19 patients tocilizumab was associated with development of candidemia. Surveillance of antifungal resistance is warranted to prevent transmission of MDR strains of nosocomial yeasts in COVID-19 hospitalised patients.