Superinfection risk in critically ill patients with severe COVID-19: a retrospective analysis of pulse steroid therapy with and without tocilizumab

Key Points

• The research evaluates the risk of superinfections in severely ill COVID-19 patients treated with steroids and tocilizumab.
• Retrospective analysis of 115 ICU patients with severe COVID-19 pneumonia.
• Assessment of culture positivity rates for acquired superinfections.
• Comparison of outcomes between groups treated with pulse-dose methylprednisolone alone and with tocilizumab.
• Superinfection rate was significantly lower in the tocilizumab group, with P=0.049 compared to the pulse steroid therapy alone group.
• No increase in ICU-acquired superinfection risk was observed with the addition of tocilizumab.