The Diagnosis of Superinfections in Mechanically Ventilated Covid-19 Patients

Patients with severe Coronavirus Disease 2019 (Covid-19) pneumonia depending on mechanical ventilation are at risk of superinfections, especially infections of respiratory tract. This multicententer prospective observational study is focused on early diagnosis of respiratory tract superinfections and identification of risk factors (immunosuppressive therapy,...). Investigators will use bronchoalveolar lavage fluid (BALF) for Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR) detection of pathogens and antigenic detection of mycoses. This project can support the routine use of BALF and PCR diagnostics for early detection of pathogens. Data will be compared with historical cohort of patients without routine BAL.