CLINICAL PROFILE AND OUTCOME OF COVID-19 PATIENTS WITH REQUIREMENT OF OXYGEN THERAPY FOR GREATER THAN ONE WEEK

The novel coronavirus disease (COVID-19) pandemic, caused by the highly contagious severe acute respiratory syndrome-coronavirus-2 (SARS-CoV-2), is still at its height causing thousands of deaths each week.Although several large randomized drug trials are underway, current survival from severe COVID-19 de- pends entirely on providing the best possible supportive care.1 Data from China suggests that although the majority of people with COVID-19 have mild illness (40%) or moderate illness (40%) about 15 % of them have se- vere illness requiring oxygen therapy, and 5% will be critically ill requiring inten- sive care unit treatment.2,3 Oxygen therapy is recommended for all moderate, severe and critical COVID-19 patients, with low doses ranging from 1-2 L/min in children and starting at 5 L/min in adults with nasal cannula, moderate flow rates for use with venturi mask (6-10 L/min) or higher flow rates (10-15 L/min) using a mask with reservoir bag. In addition, oxygen can be delivered at higher flow rates and in higher concentrations, using high-flow nasal cannula (HFNC) devices, non-invasive ventilation (NIV) and invasive ventilation devices.4 In this study we would like to identify the risk factors leading to prolonged oxygen requirement in COVID-19 patients.This information will help us in managing our resources effectively in a resource-limited setting by preparing the mindset of the patients early on in the admission for home oxygenation. The aim of the study is to assess the clinical profile and outcome of COVID-19 patients requiring oxygen therapy for more than one week duration.

382. Incidence of Hospital-Acquired and Ventilator-Associated Pneumonia in Patients with Severe COVID 19 on High Flow Oxygen

Background Hospital-acquired pneumonia (HAP) and ventilator-associated pneumonia (VAP) can be serious complications of coronavirus disease 19 (COVID-19). Co-infections may worsen outcomes and prolong hospitalization. This risk may be exacerbated by systemic corticosteroids (steroids) and other adjunctive therapies. Methods We reviewed the records of all adults admitted to Stony Brook University Hospital, NY, from 3/1 to 4/15, 2020 with severe COVID-19 pneumonia, requiring high-flow O2 (non-rebreather mask, Venturi mask with FiO2 >50%, or high-flow nasal cannula). We excluded patients who received mechanical ventilation (MV) or died within 24h. Patients were followed until death or hospital discharge. We reviewed positive sputum cultures (PSC) for pathogenic microorganisms and calculated the incidence of HAP and VAP (nosocomial pneumonia, [NP]), rates of MV and impact on mortality. Fungi isolated from sputum, were considered colonization unless associated with fungemia. We also examined the impact of adjunctive therapies with immunosuppressive potential (steroids and tocilizumab), on HAP or VAP. Results A total of 469 patients were included (Table 1). Of these, 199 (42.4%) required intensive care and 172 (36.7%) MV. Median length of stay was 13 days (8–22) and 105 (22.4%) had PSC. Of these, 59 were considered true pathogens (HAP: 11, VAP: 48), with predominance of S. aureus (MSSA) 38.9%, Enterobacteriaceae 33.8% and Pseudomonas species 18.6%. 39 isolates were considered colonization (Table 2); Patients with PSC < 48h (N=7) from admission, were not considered NP. The incidence of NP was 7.0 per 1000 patient-days (95%CI 5.5–8.5). Of 11 patients with HAP, 9 needed MV. NP was more frequent among patients receiving steroids (9.0 vs 5.7 per 1000 patient-days; P=0.023). Use of tocilizumab was not associated with NP (6.2 vs 8.4 per 1000 patient-days; P=0.11). Mortality was nonsignificantly higher in patients with (20/59, 33.9%) vs. without (103/410, 25.1%) NP (P=0.16). Intubation and length of stay were the strongest predictors of NP in multivariable models. Cohort Characteristics of Patients with Severe COVID -19 Pneumonia on High Flow Oxygen (N= 469) All Microbes Isolated from Sputum Cultures Conclusion Among high risk COVID-19 patients, NP is a common complication. MSSA and Enterobacteriaceae were the most frequent isolates. The risk increases with intubation, longer hospital stay and use of steroids but not tocilizumab. Disclosures All Authors: No reported disclosures

How the COVID-19 infection tsunami revolutionized the work of respiratory physiotherapists: an experience from Northern Italy

Due to COVID-19 outbreak, to lighten the burden of acute and critical care hospitals, some respiratory rehabilitation departments have been used to host patients with COVID-19 in the post-acute phase. This new and unexpected situation required a change of roles and scheduling of the rehabilitation teams. In this manuscript we describe the unexpected and urgent organizational change of the Cardio-Pulmonary Rehabilitation (CPR) service during the COVID-19 emergency in a Northern Italian rehabilitation hospital, focusing on the Respiratory Physiotherapists’ (RPTs) role. A quick three-days complete reorganization of the entire hospital was needed. A COVID-19 care team including a multidisciplinary panel of physicians, nurses, and RPTs was quickly performed to manage 90 beds for post acute patients with COVID-19. Within the team, the RPTs changed their shifts, so as to be available 16h per day, 7 days out of 7. Remodelled tasks in charge of RPTs were: oxygen therapy daily monitoring, non invasive ventilation (NIV) and continuous positive airways pressure (CPAP) delivery, pronation and postural changes to improve oxygenation, reconditioning with leg/arm cranking and exercises, initial and final patients’ functional assessment by short-physical performance battery (SPPB) and 1-minute sit-to-stand test (1-STS) to evaluate motor conditions and exercise-induced oxygen desaturation. Three “what-to-do” algorithms were developed to guide: i) oxygen de-escalation by reducing inhaled fraction of oxygen (FiO2); ii) oxygenation improvement through the use of Venturi mask; iii) reconditioning and physical activity. One-hundred seventy patients were treated in one month. As main topics, RPTs have been involved in oxygen therapy management in almost a third of the admitted patients, reconditioning exercises in 60% of the cases, and initial and final functional motor capacity assessment in all patients. Details of activities performed by the RPT in one typical working day are also shown. Our reorganization has exploited the professional skills and clinical expertise of the RPTs. This re-organization can provide practical insights to other facilities that are facing this crisis, and may be a starting point for implementing post-COVID-19 rehabilitation. Future studies will have to improve and review this organization.