SARS-CoV-2 variants and mutational patterns: relationship with risk of ventilator-associated pneumonia in critically ill COVID-19 patients in the era of dexamethasone

Sci Rep. 2023 Apr 24;13(1):6658. doi: 10.1038/s41598-023-33639-5.

Abstract

We aimed to explore the relationships between specific viral mutations/mutational patterns and ventilator-associated pneumonia (VAP) occurrence in COVID-19 patients admitted in intensive care units between October 1, 2020, and May 30, 2021. Full-length SARS-CoV-2 genomes were sequenced by means of next-generation sequencing. In this prospective multicentre cohort study, 259 patients were included. 222 patients (47%) had been infected with pre-existing ancestral variants, 116 (45%) with variant α, and 21 (8%) with other variants. 153 patients (59%) developed at least one VAP. There was no significant relationship between VAP occurrence and a specific SARS CoV-2 lineage/sublineage or mutational pattern.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • COVID-19 Drug Treatment
  • COVID-19*
  • Cohort Studies
  • Critical Illness
  • Dexamethasone
  • Humans
  • Intensive Care Units
  • Mutation
  • Pneumonia, Ventilator-Associated*
  • Prospective Studies
  • SARS-CoV-2

Substances

  • Dexamethasone

Supplementary concepts

  • SARS-CoV-2 variants