Prevalence and prognostic relevance of invasive fungal disease during veno-arterial ECMO: A retrospective single-center study

To assess the prevalence and relevance of invasive fungal disease (IFD) during veno-arterial (V-A) extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO). Retrospective analysis from January 2013 to November 2023 of adult V-A ECMO cases at a German University Hospital. Parameters relating to IFD, demographics, length of stay (LoS), days on ECMO and mechanical ventilation, prognostic scores and survival were assessed. Multivariable logistic regression analyses with IFD and death as dependent variables were performed. Outcome was assessed after propensity score matching IFD-patients to non-IFD-controls. 421 patients received V-A ECMO. 392 patients with full electronic datasets were included. The prevalence of IFD, invasive candidiasis and probable invasive pulmonary aspergillosis was 4.6%, 3.8% and 1.0%. Severity of acute disease, pre-existing moderate-to-severe renal disease and continuous kidney replacement therapy were predictive of IFD. In-hospital mortality (94% (17/18) compared to 67% (252/374) in non-IFD patients (p = 0.0156)) was predicted by female sex, SOFA score at admission, SAVE score and IFD (for IFD: OR: 8.31; CI: 1.60–153.18; p: 0.044). There was no difference in outcome after matching IFD-cases to non-IFD-controls. IFD are detected in about one in 20 patients on V-A ECMO, indicating mortality >90%. However, IFD do not contribute to prognosis in this population.