Opportunistic mycoses in COVID-19 patients/survivors: Epidemic inside a pandemic

Area of Science:

• Medical Mycology
• Infectious Diseases
• Public Health

Background:

• Fungal infections affect 15% of the global population, typically superficially, but invasive fungal sepsis poses a significant threat.
• Increasing incidence of invasive mycoses linked to immune-compromised states from diseases and therapies.
• The Coronavirus disease (COVID-19) pandemic and its treatment with corticosteroids have led to a rise in fungal co-infections.

Purpose of the Study:

• To document fungal infections observed in the context of the COVID-19 pandemic.
• To emphasize the potential for non-pathogenic fungi to cause severe infections in immunocompromised hosts.
• To alert clinicians and researchers to the risks of fungal co-infections in vulnerable populations.

Main Methods:

• Review of current literature and clinical observations regarding fungal infections in COVID-19 patients.
• Identification of common fungal species (Candida, Aspergillus, Mucorales) causing co-infections.
• Analysis of the role of immune suppression in facilitating fungal invasion.

Main Results:

• COVID-19 patients and survivors exhibit a range of fungal co-infections, including "Yellow/Green fungus" (Candida), "White fungus" (Aspergillus), and "Black fungus" (Mucorales).
• Corticosteroid therapy for COVID-19 exacerbates immune suppression, creating opportunities for opportunistic fungal infections.
• Fungal sepsis is emerging as a serious secondary infection in individuals with viral illnesses and those on immunosuppressive treatments.

Conclusions:

• Opportunistic fungal infections are a growing concern, particularly in the context of global health crises like COVID-19.
• Clinicians must not dismiss fungi as mere contaminants, as they can cause severe disease in immunocompromised patients.
• Further research and vigilance are required to manage and prevent invasive fungal infections in vulnerable populations.