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Bacterial and fungal infections among patients with SARS-CoV-2 pneumonia

Spinello Antinori1, Laura Galimberti2, Laura Milazzo2

  • 1Luigi Sacco Department of Biomedical and Clinical Sciences, University of Milan, Italy; III Division of Infectious Diseases, ASST Fatebenefratelli Sacco, Milan, Italy.

Le Infezioni in Medicina
|June 14, 2020
PubMed

Insights

Bacterial and fungal co-infections are common in COVID-19 patients, with high rates of septic shock and antibacterial treatment. Invasive pulmonary aspergillosis is an emerging complication requiring further study.

Area of Science:

  • Infectious Diseases
  • Critical Care Medicine
  • Microbiology

Background:

  • COVID-19 (Coronavirus Disease 2019) has been associated with secondary bacterial and fungal infections.
  • Understanding co-infections is crucial for managing critically ill patients.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To review existing literature on bacterial and fungal co-infections in COVID-19 patients.
  • To identify common complications and treatment patterns.

Main Methods:

  • Systematic review of retrospective studies reporting co-infections in COVID-19.
  • Analysis of reported incidence of septic shock and use of antibacterial treatments.

Main Results:

  • The majority of studies were of poor quality with short follow-up.
  • Septic shock occurred in 4% to 33.1% of patients.
  • Invasive pulmonary aspergillosis is an increasingly recognized complication in severe COVID-19, similar to severe influenza.

Conclusions:

  • High-quality prospective studies are urgently needed to accurately determine the incidence and impact of bacterial and fungal co-infections on COVID-19 outcomes.
  • Further research should focus on the role of these co-infections in critically ill patients.

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