Aspergillus detection in airways of ICU COVID-19 patients: To treat or not to treat?

J Mycol Med. 2022 Aug;32(3):101290. doi: 10.1016/j.mycmed.2022.101290. Epub 2022 Apr 27.

Abstract

It is now well known that patients with severe COVID-19 are at risk for developing invasive pulmonary aspergillosis (IPA). Nevertheless, the symptomatology of IPA is often atypical in mechanically ventilated patients and the radiological aspects of SARS CoV-2 pneumonia and IPA are difficult to differentiate. In this context, the significance of the presence of Aspergillus in respiratory tract samples (detected by culture, galactomannan antigen, or specific PCR) is not yet fully understood. Here we report two cases of intubated and mechanically ventilated ICU patients with SARS-CoV-2 pneumonia, in whom Aspergillus was detected in respiratory samples, who had a favorable outcome in the absence of antifungal treatment. These two cases highlight the difficulty of using the new definitions of COVID-19 associated pulmonary aspergillosis for routine management of patients.

Keywords: Antifungal treatment; Aspergillus fumigatus; COVID-19; Invasive pulmonary aspergillosis; SARS-CoV-2.

Publication types

  • Case Reports

MeSH terms

  • Aspergillus
  • COVID-19* / complications
  • Humans
  • Intensive Care Units
  • Invasive Pulmonary Aspergillosis* / diagnosis
  • Invasive Pulmonary Aspergillosis* / drug therapy
  • Invasive Pulmonary Aspergillosis* / microbiology
  • Respiratory System
  • SARS-CoV-2