Recommendations and guidelines for the diagnosis and management of Coronavirus Disease-19 (COVID-19) associated bacterial and fungal infections in Taiwan

• Published in: Journal of Microbiology, Immunology and Infection
• Main Authors: Huan-Yi Wu, Peng-Hao Chang, Yu-Shan Huang, Chin-Shiang Tsai, Kuan-Yu Chen, I-Fan Lin, Wen-Hsin Hsih, Wan-Lin Tsai, Jiun-An Chen, Te-Liang Yang, Chun-Yuan Lee, Tzong-Shiann Ho, Hsiao-Wei Wang, Shiang-Fen Huang, Alice Ying-Jung Wu, Hung-Jui Chen, Yi-Ching Chen, Wan-Chen Chen, Chien-Hao Tseng, Pei-Chin Lin, Ching-Hsiang Yang, Pi-Lien Hong, Susan Shin-Jung Lee, Yao-Shen Chen, Yung-Ching Liu, Fu-Der Wang, Yu-Jiun Chan, Feng-Yee Chang, Hou-Tai Chang, Yee-Chun Chen, Yen-Hsu Chen, Ming-Fang Cheng, Hsin Chi, Cheng-Hsun Chiu, Mao-Wang Ho, Szu-Min Hsieh, Po-Ren Hsueh, Chien-Hsien Huang, Chien-Ching Hung, Kao-Pin Hwang, Kuo-Chin Kao, Wen-Chien Ko, Chien-Feng Kuo, Chung-Hsu Lai, Nan-Yao Lee, Shin-Jung Lee, Hsi-Hsun Lin, Yi-Tsung Lin, Ching-Chuan Liu, Po-Yu Liu, Po-Liang Lu, Chun-Yi Lu, Wang-Huei Sheng, Hung-Jen Tang, Hung-Chin Tsai, Ting-Shu Wu, Chia-Jui Yang
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Published: Elsevier 2023-04-01
• Subjects: COVID-19; COVID-19 associated infections; CABI; CAPA; CAC; CAM
• Online Access: http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S1684118222002845

Coronavirus disease-19 (COVID-19) is an emerging infectious disease caused by SARS-CoV-2 that has rapidly evolved into a pandemic to cause over 600 million infections and more than 6.6 million deaths up to Nov 25, 2022. COVID-19 carries a high mortality rate in severe cases. Co-infections and secondary infections with other micro-organisms, such as bacterial and fungus, further increases the mortality and complicates the diagnosis and management of COVID-19. The current guideline provides guidance to physicians for the management and treatment of patients with COVID-19 associated bacterial and fungal infections, including COVID-19 associated bacterial infections (CABI), pulmonary aspergillosis (CAPA), candidiasis (CAC) and mucormycosis (CAM). Recommendations were drafted by the 7th Guidelines Recommendations for Evidence-based Antimicrobial agents use Taiwan (GREAT) working group after review of the current evidence, using the grading of recommendations assessment, development, and evaluation (GRADE) methodology. A nationwide expert panel reviewed the recommendations in March 2022, and the guideline was endorsed by the Infectious Diseases Society of Taiwan (IDST). This guideline includes the epidemiology, diagnostic methods and treatment recommendations for COVID-19 associated infections. The aim of this guideline is to provide guidance to physicians who are involved in the medical care for patients with COVID-19 during the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic.