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Severe mold fungal infections in critically ill patients with COVID-19

Despoina Koulenti1,2, Elisabeth Paramythiotou3, Maria Panagiota Almyroudi4

  • 1Department of Critical Care Medicine, King's College Hospital NHS Foundation Trust, London, UK.

Future Microbiology
|May 3, 2024
PubMed

Insights

Critically ill COVID-19 patients face increased risks of invasive fungal co-infections, particularly from Aspergillus and Mucor species. These mold infections worsen patient outcomes and present unique challenges in diagnosis and treatment.

Area of Science:

  • Infectious Diseases
  • Critical Care Medicine
  • Mycology

Background:

  • The SARS-CoV-2 pandemic significantly impacted healthcare systems globally.
  • Invasive fungal co-infections, especially mold infections, increased in critically ill COVID-19 patients.
  • These co-infections pose diagnostic and therapeutic challenges in intensive care units.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To review current knowledge on invasive mold infections (Aspergillus and Mucor species) in critically ill COVID-19 patients.
  • To discuss incidence, pathogenesis, diagnosis, treatment, and prevention strategies.
  • To highlight emerging risk factors and their impact on patient outcomes.

Main Methods:

  • Narrative review of existing literature.
  • Focus on critically ill COVID-19 patients with invasive mold infections.
  • Analysis of incidence, pathogenesis, diagnosis, treatment, and prevention.

Main Results:

  • COVID-19 patients showed a higher incidence of invasive mold co-infections compared to pre-pandemic levels.
  • Traditional risk factors were often absent, suggesting novel determinants.
  • Mold co-infections were associated with significantly worse patient outcomes.

Conclusions:

  • Invasive Aspergillus and Mucor infections are significant co-morbidities in severe COVID-19.
  • Understanding unique risk factors and implementing targeted interventions are crucial.
  • Prompt diagnosis and treatment are essential for improving outcomes in these complex cases.
Keywords:
CAMCAPACOVID-19antifungalsaspergillosiscritical illnessmoldsmucormycosis

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