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AIMS: Data on the impact of COVID-19 in chronic heart failure (CHF) patients and its potential to trigger acute heart failure (AHF) are lacking. The aim of this work was to study characteristics, cardiovascular outcomes and mortality in patients with confirmed COVID-19 infection and a prior diagnosis of heart failure (HF). Further aims included the identification of predictors and prognostic implications for AHF decompensation during hospital admission and the determination of a potential correlation between the withdrawal of HF guideline-directed medical therapy (GDMT) and worse outcomes during hospitalization. METHODS AND RESULTS: Data for a total of 3080 consecutive patients with confirmed COVID-19 infection and follow-up of at least 30 days were analysed. Patients with a previous history of CHF (n = 152, 4.9%) were more prone to the development of AHF (11.2% vs. 2.1%; P < 0.001) and had higher levels of N-terminal pro brain natriuretic peptide. In addition, patients with previous CHF had higher mortality rates (48.7% vs. 19.0%; P < 0.001). In contrast, 77 patients (2.5%) were diagnosed with AHF, which in the vast majority of cases (77.9%) developed in patients without a history of HF. Arrhythmias during hospital admission and CHF were the main predictors of AHF. Patients developing AHF had significantly higher mortality (46.8% vs. 19.7%; P < 0.001). Finally, the withdrawal of beta-blockers, mineralocorticoid receptor antagonists and angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitors or angiotensin receptor blockers was associated with a significant increase in in-hospital mortality. CONCLUSIONS: Patients with COVID-19 have a significant incidence of AHF, which is associated with very high mortality rates. Moreover, patients with a history of CHF are prone to developing acute decompensation after a COVID-19 diagnosis. The withdrawal of GDMT was associated with higher mortality.

Resumen Introducción: La aplicación de una solución antiséptica previa al uso de los catéteres tunelizados es una práctica recomendada. Estas medidas habituales en la manipulación de los catéteres para hemodiálisis son cruciales para evitar complicaciones. Presentamos un brote de infección por Serratia marcescens (S. marcescens) en varias unidades de hemodiálisis de la Comunidad Autónoma de Madrid. Material y métodos: Los primeros casos de bacteriemia por S. marcescens fueron aislados en diciembre de 2014. La detección de un germen infrecuente en varios pacientes se puso en conocimiento de los Servicios de Medicina Preventiva por sospecha de probable brote nosocomial. Se recogieron datos de 4 centros donde se detectaron episodios de bacteriemias similares por S. marcescens. Resultados: Fueron detectados un total de 21 casos de bacteriemia por S. marcescens. La edad media de los pacientes era de 72 ± 10 años. El tiempo medio en hemodiálisis de los pacientes afectados era de 33 ± 13 meses (rango: 3-83), el tiempo medio del catéter tunelizado era de 22 ± 13 meses. En 11 casos el cuadro clínico fue semejante, caracterizado por hipotensión y malestar general durante la sesión de hemodiálisis. En otros 7 pacientes se asoció fiebre. En 3 casos la forma de presentación fue asintomática y se detectó por hemocultivos. Todos eran portadores de catéteres tunelizados (12 pacientes con catéter en la vena yugular derecha, 5 en la yugular izquierda, 2 en la femoral derecha y 2 en la subclavia izquierda). El tratamiento que se aplicó en 6 casos fue gentamicina posdiálisis intravenosa (1 mg/kg) más sellado del catéter con solución de ciprofloxacino durante 3 semanas. En 12 pacientes el tratamiento fue ceftazidima 2g iv más sellado de catéter con el mismo antibiótico durante 2 semanas. Cuatro pacientes recibieron dosis de ciprofloxacino oral, en un caso se asoció a vancomicina iv, durante 2semanas. A las 48 h de iniciar el tratamiento, los pacientes quedaron asintomáticos y no presentaron nuevos episodios. No se observó ninguna complicación mayor. Esta situación fue comunicada por los equipos a las autoridades sanitarias. Posteriormente, se notificó la presencia de lotes de antiséptico de clorhexidina acuosa al 0,05 y 2% colonizados por S. marcescens. Dada la aplicación de forma rutinaria del antiséptico en el manejo de los catéteres en estas unidades, este fue considerado el foco de contagio. Tras la retirada de los lotes no acontecieron nuevos casos. Conclusiones: Las bacteriemias por gérmenes no convencionales deben ponernos sobre aviso para investigar posibles brotes. La aplicación de una solución contaminada por S. marcescens en los catéteres en hemodiálisis fue la vía de bacteriemia. El tratamiento antibiótico intravenoso y el sellado de los catéteres permitió una excelente supervivencia tanto de los pacientes como de los catéteres. Abstract Introduction: The application of antiseptic solution for handling tunnelled catheters is recommended in patients undergoing haemodialysis. These routine antiseptic procedures in handling catheters are crucial to avoid complications. We report an outbreak of Serratia marcescens (S. marcescens) bacteraemia in numerous haemodialysis units of the Community of Madrid. Material and methods: The first cases of bacteraemia due to S. marcescens were isolated in December 2014. The Preventive Medicine Services were informed of the detection of an atypical pathogen in several patients, suspecting a probable nosocomial outbreak. Information from 4 centres with similar S. marcescens bacteraemia was analysed. Results: Twenty-one cases of bacteraemia related to S. marcescens were identified. The mean age of affected patients was 72 ± 10 years. The mean time on haemodialysis of affected patients was 33 ± 13 months (range: 3-83 months), the median time of tunnelled catheter was 22 ± 13 months. In 11 cases the clinical picture was similar, with hypotension and general malaise during the haemodialysis session. Fever was present in a further 7 cases. In 3 cases the presentation was asymptomatic and was detected by blood cultures. All patients had tunnelled catheters (12 patients with catheter in the right jugular vein, 5 in the left jugular, 2 in the right femoral artery and 2 in the left subclavian artery). Gentamicin intravenous doses (1 mg/kg) with catheter lock solution with ciprofloxacin post-dialysis were administered for 3 weeks in 6 patients. In 12 patients the treatment was ceftazidime (2 g IV) plus catheter lock solution with the same antibiotic, for 2 weeks. Four patients received oral ciprofloxacin for 2 weeks, in one case together with IV vancomycin. The patients were asymptomatic and without new episodes 48 hours after the treatment. No major complications were observed. The teams informed the health authorities of the situation, which then reported the presence of batches of antiseptic (chlorhexidine 0.05 and 2%) colonised by S. marcescens. Given the routine application of this antiseptic in handling catheters at these units, this was considered the source of contagion and new cases were not observed after the removal of the batches. Conclusions: The presence of bacteraemia due to unconventional germs should alert us to a potential outbreak. The application of a solution contaminated by S. marcescens in haemodialysis catheters was the source of bacteraemia. The intravenous antibiotic treatment and the catheter lock solution allowed an excellent survival of patients and catheters.