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COVID-19 and Fungal Diseases

Kyoung-Ho Oh1, Seung-Hoon Lee1

  • 1Department of Otorhinolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, Korea University Ansan Hospital, Ansan 15355, Korea.

Antibiotics (Basel, Switzerland)
|June 24, 2022
PubMed

Insights

COVID-19 patients, especially those with severe illness or comorbidities, face a high risk of secondary fungal infections in the head and neck. Early diagnosis and treatment are crucial to reduce mortality.

Area of Science:

  • Infectious Diseases
  • Immunology
  • Otolaryngology

Background:

  • COVID-19 impacts immune markers (TNF-alpha, cytokines) and cell counts (CD4, CD8), increasing susceptibility to secondary infections.
  • The head and neck region harbors natural fungal species, serving as a primary site for secondary infections.
  • Distinguishing COVID-19's direct vs. indirect role in infection due to immunosuppression from treatments is challenging.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To review the risk of fungal infections in the head and neck of COVID-19 patients.
  • To provide insights for reducing mortality associated with these infections.

Main Methods:

  • Literature review focusing on COVID-19's impact on immune status.
  • Analysis of risk factors for secondary fungal infections in head and neck cancer patients.
  • Examination of diagnostic and treatment strategies for invasive fungal infections.

Main Results:

  • Severe COVID-19 and pre-existing comorbidities significantly elevate the risk of invasive fungal infections.
  • Lymphopenia is a common finding in COVID-19 patients, indicating immune compromise.
  • High risk of fungal infection observed in immunocompromised COVID-19 patients.

Conclusions:

  • Early diagnosis and prompt treatment with systemic antifungals or surgical intervention are essential for managing invasive fungal infections in COVID-19 patients.
  • Reducing morbidity and mortality requires a proactive approach to identifying and treating fungal co-infections.
  • Understanding the interplay between COVID-19, immune status, and fungal infections is critical for patient outcomes.
Keywords:
COVID-19antifungal therapyfungal infectionfungiimmunosuppressants

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