Open AccessPulmonary aspergillosis in two COVID-19 patients from Kuwait
Author(s) -
Khaled Alobaid,
Beena Yousuf,
Eman Al-Qattan,
Zainab Muqeem,
Nawaf Al-Subaie
Publication year - 2021
Publication title -
access microbiology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
ISSN - 2516-8290
DOI - 10.1099/acmi.0.000201
Subject(s) - aspergillosis , medicine , radiological weapon , intensive care unit , intensive care medicine , pulmonary aspergillosis , bronchoscopy , covid-19 , galactomannan , antifungal , allergic bronchopulmonary aspergillosis , disease , immunology , infectious disease (medical specialty) , dermatology , surgery , immunoglobulin e , antibody
Critically ill patients with coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) are at risk of invasive pulmonary aspergillosis. The clinical manifestations of a superimposed fungal infection in those patients are difficult to underpin. This is compounded by the non-specific radiological findings associated with this infection and the challenges associated with performing bronchoscopy in COVID-19 patients. We would like to present two COVID-19 cases who developed secondary Aspergillus pulmonary infection in the intensive care unit as shown by respiratory cultures, serum galactomannan and radiological images. Despite advanced intensive care and use of antifungal agents, both patients died eventually. This report illustrates the negative impact of secondary Aspergillosis and calls for the need of increased awareness of COVID19-associated pulmonary aspergillosis.