Evidence map›Paper›PMID 35605805›Full record

Observational studyThe Journal of infection2022

Corticosteroids and superinfections in COVID-19 patients on invasive mechanical ventilation.

Signe Søvik, Andreas Barrat-Due, Trine Kåsine, Theresa Olasveengen, Marianne Wigernes Strand, Anders Aune Tveita, Jan Erik Berdal, Martin Andreas Lehre, Torleif Lorentsen, Lars Heggelund and 6 more

Open access · hybridAbstract readMulticenter StudyObservational Study
PubMed Full text at PMC Publisher
In one paragraph

Observational study in The Journal of infection, 2022. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 32 papers, 1 of them a synthesis that pooled it.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
32citing papers in PubMed, 1 pooled it
8.1field-weighted citation impact, top 2% of its field
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

32 citing papers in PubMed, 1 synthesis or guideline pooled it, 55 citations in OpenAlex.

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  10. Safety of steroids in severe community-acquired pneumonia.European respiratory review : an official journal of the European Respiratory Society · 2025
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4 · The record

Corrections and comments

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

16 authors at 7 institutions in 2 countries.

Signe SøvikDept. of Anesthesiology and Intensive Care, Akershus University Hospital, Lørenskog, Norway; Institute of Clinical Medicine, University of Oslo, Oslo, Norway. Electronic address: signe.sovik@medisin.uio.no.
Andreas Barrat-DueDivision of Emergencies and Critical Care, Oslo University Hospital, Oslo, Norway; Dept. of Immunology, Oslo University Hospital, Oslo, Norway. Electronic address: abarratt@ous-hf.no.
Trine KåsineDivision of Emergencies and Critical Care, Oslo University Hospital, Oslo, Norway. Electronic address: TRIKAA@ous-hf.no.
Theresa OlasveengenInstitute of Clinical Medicine, University of Oslo, Oslo, Norway; Division of Emergencies and Critical Care, Oslo University Hospital, Oslo, Norway. Electronic address: uxothe@ous-hf.no.
Marianne Wigernes StrandDept. of Infectious Diseases, Østfold Hospital, Kalnes, Norway Marianne. Wigernes. Electronic address: Strand@so-hf.no.
Anders Aune TveitaDept. of Internal Medicine, Vestre Viken Hospital Trust, Bærum, Norway; Dept. of Immunology and Transfusion Medicine, Oslo University Hospital, Oslo, Norway. Electronic address: a.a.tveita@medisin.uio.no.
Jan Erik BerdalDept. of Infectious Diseases, Akershus University Hospital, Lørenskog, Norway; Institute of Clinical Medicine, University of Oslo, Oslo, Norway. Electronic address: Jan-Erik.Berdal@ahus.no.
Martin Andreas LehreDept. of Anesthesiology and Intensive Care, Akershus University Hospital, Lørenskog, Norway. Electronic address: martin.andreas.lehre@ahus.no.
Torleif LorentsenDivision of Emergencies and Critical Care, Oslo University Hospital, Oslo, Norway. Electronic address: torlor@ous-hf.no.
Lars HeggelundDept. of Internal Medicine, Vestre Viken Hospital Trust, Drammen, Drammen, Norway; Dept. of Clinical Science, Faculty of Medicine, University of Bergen, Norway. Electronic address: lars.heggelund@vestreviken.no.
Tore StenstadDept. of Infectious Diseases, Vestfold Hospital Trust, Tønsberg, Norway. Electronic address: tore.stenstad@siv.no.
Jetmund RingstadDept. of Internal Medicine, Vestre Viken Hospital Trust, Bærum, Norway. Electronic address: Jetmund.Ringstad@so-hf.no.
Fredrik MüllerInstitute of Clinical Medicine, University of Oslo, Oslo, Norway; Dept. of Microbiology, Oslo University Hospital, Oslo, Norway. Electronic address: fmuller@ous-hf.no.
Pål AukrustSection for Clinical Immunology and Infectious Diseases, Oslo University Hospital, Oslo, Norway; Research Institute for Internal Medicine, Oslo University Hospital, Rikshospitalet, Oslo, Norway. Electronic address: paukrust@ous-hf.no.
Jan Cato HolterInstitute of Clinical Medicine, University of Oslo, Oslo, Norway; Dept. of Microbiology, Oslo University Hospital, Oslo, Norway. Electronic address: jacaho@ous-hf.no.
Ingvild NordøySection for Clinical Immunology and Infectious Diseases, Oslo University Hospital, Oslo, Norway; Research Institute for Internal Medicine, Oslo University Hospital, Rikshospitalet, Oslo, Norway. Electronic address: inordoy@ous-hf.no.
Oslo University Hospital · NOUniversity of Oslo · NOAkershus University Hospital · NODrammen Hospital · NOSykehuset i Vestfold · NOVestre Viken Hospital Trust · NOVilla Maria Hospital · UG

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

objectivesTo determine the incidence and characteristics of superinfections in mechanically ventilated COVID-19 patients, and the impact of dexamethasone as standard therapy.

methodsThis multicentre, observational, retrospective study included patients ≥ 18 years admitted from March 1

results155/156 patients (115 men, mean age 62 years, range 26-84 years) were included. 67 patients (43%) had 90 superinfections, pneumonia dominated (78%). Superinfections were associated with receiving dexamethasone (66% vs 32%, p<0.0001), autoimmune disease (18% vs 5.7%, p<0.016) and with longer ICU stays (26 vs 17 days, p<0,001). Invasive fungal infections were reported exclusively in dexamethasone-treated patients [8/67 (12%) vs 0/88 (0%), p<0.0001]. Unadjusted 90-day survival did not differ between patients with or without superinfections (64% vs 73%, p=0.25), but was lower in patients receiving dexamethasone versus not (58% vs 78%, p=0.007). In multiple regression analysis, superinfection was associated with dexamethasone use [OR 3.7 (1.80-7.61), p<0.001], pre-existing autoimmune disease [OR 3.82 (1.13-12.9), p=0.031] and length of ICU stay [OR 1.05 p<0.001].

conclusionsIn critically ill COVID-19 patients, dexamethasone as standard of care was strongly and independently associated with superinfections.

Indexed as

Autoimmune DiseasesCOVID-19SuperinfectionAdrenal Cortex HormonesAdultAgedAged, 80 and overDexamethasoneHumansMaleMiddle AgedRespiration, ArtificialRetrospective StudiesSARS-CoV-2Adrenal Cortex HormonesDexamethasoneARDSCOVID-19DexamethasoneInvasive fungal infectionsSuperinfections

Identifiers

PMID35605805
PMCPMC9122884
OpenAlexW4281256092

What OpenQuestion holds

Textmetadata
Read underepoch 390

Registered trials

None linked

Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.