Invasive Fungal Infections in Immunocompromised Conditions: Emphasis on COVID-19.

Invasive Fungal Infections in Immunocompromised Conditions: Emphasis on COVID-19.

Publication date: Oct 09, 2024

The COVID-19 pandemic caused death of 6 million lives globally, primarily from respiratory failure, but also a significant number from invasive fungal co-infections in these patients, owing to the immune dysfunction in hospitalized patients. Such complications occurred more often in critically ill, hospitalized patients particularly those admitted in intensive care units and were reported as the major reason associated with a high mortality rate worldwide. Fungal pathogens most commonly associated with COVID-19 patients comprise members of the Mucorales (such as Rhizopus, Mucor, and Lichtheimia), as well as genera Aspergillus and Candida. In India, the prevalence rate of mucormycosis is relatively high than aspergillosis and candidiasis, and the predisposing risk factors associated with such infections included uncontrolled diabetes, underlying lung disease, leukopenia, neutropenia, malignancies and prolonged steroid therapy. However, co-infection with other fungi, including Alternaria and Scedosporium was also sporadically reported. These devastating invasive fungal infections are associated with differential mortality (high-low) and morbidity rates even after active management. The diagnosis of such infections is often challenging due to lack of sensitivity in contemporary diagnostic methods and poses an enormous challenge to healthcare experts. Thus, the role of early and accurate diagnosis, and management of such fungal infections, is vital in preventing life-threatening situations. Hence, this review focusses primarily on the epidemiology, predisposing risk factors, host environment, diagnosis and treatment of the most common medically important invasive fungal infections in immunocompromised conditions associated with COVID-19.

Concepts Keywords
Aspergillosis Coinfection
Diabetes COVID-19
Enormous Humans
Fungi Immunocompromised Host
Healthcare Invasive Fungal Infections
Mucormycosis
Risk Factors
SARS-CoV-2

Semantics

Type Source Name
disease MESH Invasive Fungal Infections
disease MESH COVID-19
disease MESH death
disease MESH respiratory failure
disease MESH co-infections
disease MESH complications
disease MESH critically ill
disease MESH mucormycosis
disease MESH aspergillosis
disease MESH candidiasis
disease MESH infections
disease MESH lung disease
disease MESH leukopenia
disease MESH neutropenia
disease MESH malignancies
disease MESH morbidity
disease IDO role
disease MESH fungal infections
disease IDO host
disease MESH Immunocompromised Host

Original Article

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