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Proven COVID‐19—associated pulmonary aspergillosis in patients with severe respiratory failure
Author(s) -
Fortarezza Francesco,
Boscolo Annalisa,
Pezzuto Federica,
Lunardi Francesca,
Jesús Acosta Manuel,
Giraudo Chiara,
Del Vecchio Claudia,
Sella Nicolò,
Tiberio Ivo,
Godi Ilaria,
Cattelan Annamaria,
Vedovelli Luca,
Gregori Dario,
Vettor Roberto,
Viale Pierluigi,
Navalesi Paolo,
Calabrese Fiorella
Publication year - 2021
Publication title -
mycoses
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.13
H-Index - 69
eISSN - 1439-0507
pISSN - 0933-7407
DOI - 10.1111/myc.13342
Subject(s) - medicine , epidemiology , incidence (geometry) , intensive care unit , pandemic , radiological weapon , pediatrics , concomitant , aspergillosis , population , covid-19 , medical diagnosis , intensive care medicine , surgery , pathology , infectious disease (medical specialty) , disease , immunology , physics , environmental health , optics
Abstract Background An increasing number of reports have described the COVID‐19–associated pulmonary aspergillosis (CAPA) as being a further contributing factor to mortality. Based on a recent consensus statement supported by international medical mycology societies, it has been proposed to define CAPA as possible, probable, or proven on the basis of sample validity and thus diagnostic certainty. Considering current challenges associated with proven diagnoses, there is pressing need to study the epidemiology of proven CAPA. Methods We report the incidence of histologically diagnosed CAPA in a series of 45 consecutive COVID‐19 laboratory‐confirmed autopsies, performed at Padova University Hospital during the first and second wave of the pandemic. Clinical data, laboratory data and radiological features were also collected for each case. Results Proven CAPA was detected in 9 (20%) cases, mainly in the second wave of the pandemic (7/17 vs. 2/28 of the first wave). The population of CAPA patients consisted of seven males and two females, with a median age of 74 years. Seven patients were admitted to the intensive care unit. All patients had at least two comorbidities, and concomitant lung diseases were detected in three cases. Conclusion We found a high frequency of proven CAPA among patients with severe COVID‐19 thus confirming at least in part the alarming epidemiological data of this important complication recently reported as probable CAPA.