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Introduction: Remdesivir (REM) and monoclonal antibodies (mAbs) could alleviate severe COVID-19 in at-risk outpatients. However, data on their use in hospitalized patients, particularly in elderly or immunocompromised hosts, are lacking. Methods: All consecutive patients hospitalized with COVID-19 at our unit from 1 July 2021 to 15 March 2022 were retrospectively enrolled. The primary outcome was the progression to severe COVID-19 (P/F < 200). Descriptive statistics, a Cox univariate–multivariate model, and an inverse probability treatment-weighted (IPTW) analysis were performed. Results: Overall, 331 subjects were included; their median (q1–q3) age was 71 (51–80) years, and they were males in 52% of the cases. Of them, 78 (23%) developed severe COVID-19. All-cause in-hospital mortality was 14%; it was higher in those with disease progression (36% vs. 7%, p < 0.001). REM and mAbs resulted in a 7% (95%CI = 3–11%) and 14% (95%CI = 3–25%) reduction in the risk of severe COVID-19, respectively, after adjusting the analysis with the IPTW. In addition, by evaluating only immunocompromised hosts, the combination of REM and mAbs was associated with a significantly lower incidence of severe COVID-19 (aHR = 0.06, 95%CI = 0.02–0.77) when compared with monotherapy. Conclusions: REM and mAbs may reduce the risk of COVID-19 progression in hospitalized patients. Importantly, in immunocompromised hosts, the combination of mAbs and REM may be beneficial.

COVID-19 has threatened the capability of receiving and allocating patients in emergency departments (EDs) all over the world. This is a retrospective cohort study to explore the role of a simple procedure like an ECG to screen for the severity of COVID-19 on admission to the ED. For this study, 548 consecutive patients were enrolled in a multicenter international registry and stratified upon ECG on admission with a simple distinction between normal vs. abnormal rhythm. Among patients in the abnormal ECG group were those with heart rates higher than 100 beats per minute and/or atrial fibrillation. Survival in patients with normal ECG rhythm was deemed below 75% after 58 days and then stabilized, while survival in patients with abnormal ECG rhythm was deemed below 75% after 11 days and below 50% after 21 days. A multivariate analysis including abnormal rhythm, gender, age, diabetes, obesity, respiratory failure during hospitalization, heart failure during hospitalization, and abnormal rhythm was an independent predictor of death (HR 7.20 95% CI 3.63–14.28, p < 0.01). This finding, if confirmed in large prospective studies, is promising for identifying a cheap and simple procedure for patients in need of a closer look.

SARS-CoV-2 is constantly evolving, leading to new variants. We analysed data from 4400 SARS-CoV-2-positive samples in order to pursue epidemiological variant surveillance and to evaluate their impact on public health in Italy in the period of April–December 2021. The main circulating strain (76.2%) was the Delta variant, followed by the Alpha (13.3%), the Omicron (5.3%), and the Gamma variants (2.9%). The B.1.1 lineages, Eta, Beta, Iota, Mu, and Kappa variants, represented around 1% of cases. There were 48.2% of subjects who had not been vaccinated, and they had a lower median age compared to the vaccinated subjects (47 vs. 61 years). An increasing number of infections in the vaccinated subjects were observed over time, with the highest proportion in November (85.2%). The variants correlated with clinical status; the largest proportion of symptomatic patients (59.6%) was observed with the Delta variant, while subjects harbouring the Gamma variant showed the highest proportion of asymptomatic infection (21.6%), albeit also deaths (5.4%). The Omicron variant was only found in the vaccinated subjects, of which 47% had been hospitalised. The diffusivity and pathogenicity associated with the different SARS-CoV-2 variants are likely to have relevant public health implications, both at the national and international levels. Our study provides data on the rapid changes in the epidemiological landscape of the SARS-CoV-2 variants in Italy.

Secondary bloodstream infections (BSIs) caused by KPC- and NDM-producing Klebsiella pneumoniae (K.p.) during the course of COVID-19 infections lead to significant mortality. Herein, a comparative retrospective case series of KPC- or NDM-K.p. BSIs occurring in COVID-19 subjects treated with Ceftazidime/Avibactam (CAZ/AVI) for KPC-K.p., or CAZ/AVI+ Aztreonam (ATM) for NDM-K.p is reported. All patients hospitalized for COVID-19 in two Italian hospitals with a BSI between March and September 2021 were included. The main outcome was 14-day mortality. Overall, 44 patients were included: 23 with KPC-K.p. and 21 with NDM-K.p. BSIs. The median (q1–q3) age was 67 (57–75) years, and 32 (72%) were males. The two groups were similar in terms of baseline comorbidity, or severity of COVID-19. Notably, 14-day mortality of KPC-K.p. BSIs and NDM-K.p. BSIs (26% vs. 38%, p = 0.521) and 28-day mortality (35% vs. 48%, p = 0.541) were similar. A Cox regression model of delayed initiation of an appropriate antibiotic therapy after the onset of symptoms independently predicted mortality: initiation between 24 and 72 h (aHR = 12.03; 95% CI = 1.10–130, p = 0.041); and initiation after 72h (aHR = 36.9, 95% CI = 3.22–424, p = 0.004). Moreover, a trend towards an increased risk of mortality was observed for polymicrobial infections (aHR = 3.73, 95% CI = 0.87–15.8, p = 0.074), while a protective effect was observed for a beta-lactam loading dose at the start of treatment (aHR = 0.16, 95% CI = 0.02–1.10, p = 0.064). The high mortality of KPC and NDM-K.p. BSIs in COVID-19 patients may be reduced by an early and appropriate antibiotic therapy. Further efforts should be made to develop antimicrobial stewardship and infection control programs in COVID-19 wards.

Descending necrotizing mediastinitis (DNM) is an acute, rare, severe condition with high mortality, but the optimal management protocol is still controversial. We retrospectively analyzed the results of multidisciplinary management in patients treated for DNM at our center over the last twenty years. Fifteen male patients, mean age 49.07 ± 14.92 years, were treated: 9 with cervico-pharyngeal etiopathogenesis, 3 peri-tonsillar/tonsillar, 2 odontogenic, 1 post-surgical; 6 with DNM type I, 6 with type IIA, and 3 with type IIB (Endo’s classification). Mean time between diagnosis and treatment was 2.24 ± 1.61 days. In all cases, mediastinum drainage via thoracotomy was performed after neck drainage via cervicotomy, associated with tooth treatment in two; one required re-operation; tracheostomy was necessary in 9, temporary intensive care unit stay in 4; 6 developed complications, without post-operative mortality. Main isolated germs were Staphylococci and Candida; 7 had polymicrobial infection. The most used antibiotics were meropenem, metronidazole, teicoplanin, third-generation cephalosporins and clyndamicin; anti-fungal drugs were fluconazole, caspofungin and anidulafungin. On multivariate analysis, presence of cardiovascular disease was statistically significantly associated with longer chest tube duration and hospital stay. DNM requires early diagnosis and treatment to reduce mortality and morbidity. The most effective treatment should provide a multidisciplinary approach, combining cervicotomy and thoracotomy to drain all infectious collections with administration and monitoring of the proper antimicrobial therapy.