{"title":"When to Initiate Antifungal Treatment in COVID-19 Patients with Secondary Fungal Co-infection.","authors":"Harnoor Singh Pruthi","doi":"10.1007/s40588-022-00184-0","DOIUrl":null,"url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Purpose of review: </strong>Severe-acute respiratory coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) has been driving the health care delivery system for over 2 years. With time, many issues related to co-infections in COVID-19 patients are constantly surfacing. There have been numerous reports about various fungal co-infections in patients with COVID-19. The extent of severity of fungal pathogens has been recognized as a substantial cause of morbidity and mortality in this population. Awareness, understanding, and a systematic approach to managing fungal co-infections in COVID-19 patients are important. No guidelines have enumerated the stepwise approach to managing the fungal infections co-occurring with COVID-19. This review is intended to present an overview of the fungal co-infections in COVID-19 patients and their stepwise screening and management.</p><p><strong>Recent findings: </strong>The most common fungal infections that have been reported to co-exist with COVID-19 are Candidemia, Aspergillosis, and Mucormycosis. Prevalence of co-infections in COVID-19 patients has been reported to be much higher in hospitalized COVID-19 patients, especially those in intensive care units. While clear pathogenetic mechanisms have not been delineated, COVID-19 patients are at a high risk of invasive fungal infections.</p><p><strong>Summary: </strong>As secondary fungal infections have been challenging to treat in COVID-19 patients, as they tend to affect the critically ill or immunocompromised patients, a delay in diagnosis and treatment may be fatal. Antifungal drugs should be initiated with caution after carefully assessing the immune status of the patients, drug interactions, and adverse effects. The crucial factors in successfully treating fungal infections in COVID-19 patients are optimal diagnostic approach, routine screening, and timely initiation of antifungal therapy.</p>","PeriodicalId":45506,"journal":{"name":"Current Clinical Microbiology Reports","volume":"9 4","pages":"60-68"},"PeriodicalIF":3.1000,"publicationDate":"2022-01-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC9630809/pdf/","citationCount":"2","resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":null,"PeriodicalName":"Current Clinical Microbiology Reports","FirstCategoryId":"1085","ListUrlMain":"https://doi.org/10.1007/s40588-022-00184-0","RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":null,"ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":null,"EPubDate":"","PubModel":"","JCR":"Q2","JCRName":"MICROBIOLOGY","Score":null,"Total":0}
引用次数: 2
Abstract
Purpose of review: Severe-acute respiratory coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) has been driving the health care delivery system for over 2 years. With time, many issues related to co-infections in COVID-19 patients are constantly surfacing. There have been numerous reports about various fungal co-infections in patients with COVID-19. The extent of severity of fungal pathogens has been recognized as a substantial cause of morbidity and mortality in this population. Awareness, understanding, and a systematic approach to managing fungal co-infections in COVID-19 patients are important. No guidelines have enumerated the stepwise approach to managing the fungal infections co-occurring with COVID-19. This review is intended to present an overview of the fungal co-infections in COVID-19 patients and their stepwise screening and management.
Recent findings: The most common fungal infections that have been reported to co-exist with COVID-19 are Candidemia, Aspergillosis, and Mucormycosis. Prevalence of co-infections in COVID-19 patients has been reported to be much higher in hospitalized COVID-19 patients, especially those in intensive care units. While clear pathogenetic mechanisms have not been delineated, COVID-19 patients are at a high risk of invasive fungal infections.
Summary: As secondary fungal infections have been challenging to treat in COVID-19 patients, as they tend to affect the critically ill or immunocompromised patients, a delay in diagnosis and treatment may be fatal. Antifungal drugs should be initiated with caution after carefully assessing the immune status of the patients, drug interactions, and adverse effects. The crucial factors in successfully treating fungal infections in COVID-19 patients are optimal diagnostic approach, routine screening, and timely initiation of antifungal therapy.
期刊介绍：
Current Clinical Microbiology Reports commissions expert reviews from leading scientists at the forefront of research in microbiology. The journal covers this broad field by dividing it into four key main areas of study: virology, bacteriology, parasitology, and mycology. Within each of the four sections, experts from around the world address important aspects of clinical microbiology such as immunology, diagnostics, therapeutics, antibiotics and antibiotic resistance, and vaccines. Some of the world’s foremost authorities in the field of microbiology serve as section editors and editorial board members. Section editors select topics for which leading researchers are invited to contribute comprehensive review articles that emphasize new developments and recently published papers of major importance, which are highlighted in annotated reference lists. These timely reviews of the literature examine the latest scientific discoveries and controversies as they emerge and are indispensable to both researchers and clinicians. The editorial board, composed of more than 20 internationally diverse members, reviews the annual table of contents, ensures that topics address all aspects of emerging research, and where applicable suggests topics of critical importance to various countries/regions.
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