Proven Pulmonary Aspergillosis in a Covid-19 Patient: A Case Report Publisher



Khodavaisy S¹ ; Khajavirad N² ; Hashemi SJ¹ ; Izadi A¹ ; Dehghan Manshadi SA³ ; Abdollahi A⁴ ; Aliramezani A⁵ ; Sasani E⁶ ; Abdorahimi M⁷ ; Kiyaeie RS¹ ; Khosravany Z¹ ; Getso MI^{1, 8} ; Salehi M³ Show Affiliations
Source: Current Medical Mycology Published:2021

Abstract

Background and Purpose: Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) has become a significant clinical challenge in healthcare settings all over the world. Critically ill COVID-19 patients with acute respiratory distress syndrome may be at increased risk of co-infection with pulmonary aspergillosis. This study aimed to describe a clinical case of proven pulmonary aspergillosis caused by Aspergillus tubingensis in a 59-year-old man with a history of hospitalization due to COVID-19 infection. Case report: The Covid-19 infection was confirmed by positive nasopharyngeal polymerase chain reaction. He had a cavitary lesion measured 20 mm in diameter with intracavitary soft tissue density in the left lung in the first chest computerized tomography scan. After 25 days, he showed two cavitary lesions in both lungs which raised suspicion of fungal infection; hence, the patient underwent a trans-thoracic biopsy of the cavitary lesion. The direct examination and culture of the biopsy material revealed Aspergillus species. To confirm the Aspergillus species identification, the beta-tubulin region was sequenced. The patient was treated with oral voriconazole. Conclusion: This report underlined the importance of early diagnosis and management of invasive fungal infections in severe COVID-19 patients. © 2021 Mazandaran University of Medical Sciences. All rights reserved.