Risk Factors for Severe COVID-19 and Prolonged Viral Shedding in Immunocompromised Patients

Hematologic malignancy and delayed treatment initiation were associated with prolonged viral shedding; long-term combination antiviral therapy appeared to hasten viral clearance with unclear impact on outcomes.

Immunocompromised patients with COVID-19 often shed virus for prolonged periods despite antiviral therapy. For such patients, some centers use combination therapy with one or two direct-acting antivirals (DAA) with or without an anti–SARS-CoV-2 monoclonal antibody (mAb), although supporting evidence is scarce. Now, two groups in Germany have addressed COVID-19 management in immunocompromised patients during the Omicron era.

Orth et al. reported their experience with dual antiviral therapy for COVID-19 in patients at high risk for severe disease. Among 144 patients, 85% were immunocompromised (primarily due to solid organ transplantation [SOT] or hematologic malignancy [HM]); the rest were not formally immunocompromised but had several risk f…

Reviewing Author

Thomas Glück, MD

Disclosures

Editorial BoardsConsilium Infectiorum by InfectoPharm, Infection

Thomas Glück, MD

Disclosures

Editorial BoardsConsilium Infectiorum by InfectoPharm, Infection

Risk Factors for Severe COVID-19 and Prolonged Viral Shedding in Immunocompromised Patients

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Reviewing Author