scholarly journals Invasive Pulmonary Aspergillosis in Patients with SARS-CoV-2 Infection: A Systematic Review of the Literature

Diagnostics ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 10 (10) ◽  
pp. 807 ◽  
Author(s):  
Anna Apostolopoulou ◽  
Zerelda Esquer Garrigos ◽  
Prakhar Vijayvargiya ◽  
Alexis Hope Lerner ◽  
Dimitrios Farmakiotis

In this systematic review, we investigate the epidemiology, pathogenesis, risk factors, clinical manifestations, diagnosis and treatment of COVID-19-associated pulmonary aspergillosis (CAPA). We identified 85 cases from 22 studies. The frequency of CAPA is currently unknown but ranges between <5% to >30% in different case series; the possibility of colonization rather than invasive disease is the most important confounder. The vast majority of patients with CAPA did not have any of the classic host risk factors, such as immunosuppression from organ transplant or neutropenia, although a significant proportion (46%) had received corticosteroids. Age, pulmonary comorbidities and male sex were associated with higher mortality. Patients treated with voriconazole had numerically lower case-fatality rate. Clinical vigilance for CAPA is advisable in critically ill patients with COVID-19 who are not improving, even those who do not meet classic host criteria for invasive mycoses, especially if they are receiving corticosteroids. A thorough, multi-faceted diagnostic work-up and early initiation of a mold-active triazole may be lifesaving. Further research studies using standardized, uniform definitions of invasive disease and colonization are urgently needed.

2019 ◽  
Vol 58 (1) ◽  
pp. 1-10
Author(s):  
Alex Carignan ◽  
Mélina Denis ◽  
Claire Nour Abou Chakra

Abstract Published case fatality in blastomycosis patients ranges between 4% and 78%. This study aimed to assess mortality associated with blastomycosis and identify its associated risk factors. We conducted a systematic review of publications related to Blastomyces dermatitidis available in PubMed and Scopus databases. Studies that reported data on blastomycosis mortality and that were published from inception through February 2018 were assessed and included in the analysis. Using the R meta package, a random-effect model meta-analysis was used to calculate pooled and stratified estimates of case-fatality proportions and risk ratios. Of 1553 publications, we included 20 studies reporting on a total of 2820 cases of blastomycosis between 1970 and 2014 and three case series reports with 10, 21, and 36 patients. The mean or median ages ranged from 28 to 59 years. Mortality was defined as attributable mortality caused by blastomycosis in 13 studies. Among 14 studies with a standard error ≤0.05, the overall pooled mortality was 6.6% (95% confidence interval [CI], 4.9–8.2) with 57% heterogeneity. The mortality rate was 37% (95% CI, 23–51) in immunocompromised patients and 75% (95% CI, 53–96) in patients who developed an acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS) (n = 3 studies each). ARDS was the only identified risk factor in general patients (risk ratio = 10.2). The overall mortality was significantly higher in studies involving immunocompromised patients and ARDS patients. Our analysis showed considerable heterogeneity among studies. Inconsistent mortality definitions may have contributed to the observed heterogeneity. Further research is needed to assess potential risk factors for mortality.


2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Prof. Saira Afzal ◽  
Mehreen Nasir

Fungal infections have increased in number since the onset of this lethal pandemic. The aim of this study is to assess risk factors and case fatality in COVID-19 cases with aspergillosis or mucormycosis. Systematic review and meta-analysis was done according to PRISMA guidelines. Data bases used were Google scholar, Pakmedinet, PUBMED and MEDLINE. 21 case reports and case series of mucormycosis in COVID-19 patients were identified and mean age was 56.3 years (36 males and 12 females). The most common comorbidity was diabetes and site was Rhino orbital mucormycosis. Case fatality of 48 combined cases was calculated to be 52%. 19 articles of aspergillosis were included. Diabetes was the most common comorbidity in cases. The number of male cases were more than females. Incidence of aspergillosis in critically sick COVID-19 patients was calculated to be 9.3%. Case fatality was calculated to be 51.2%. Screening can be a beneficial tool for decreasing the morbidity and mortality.


2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Brittany E. Kula ◽  
Cornelius J. Clancy ◽  
M. Hong Nguyen ◽  
Ilan S. Schwartz

BackgroundInvasive mould disease (IMD) – most commonly pulmonary aspergillosis - is reported to affect up to a third of critically ill COVID-19 patients. Most reported cases are diagnosed with probable/putative COVID-19 associated pulmonary aspergillosis (CAPA) based on a combination of non-specific clinical, radiographic, and mycological findings, but the clinical significance – and whether these cases represent true invasive disease – is unresolved.MethodsWe performed a systematic review of autopsy series of decedents with COVID-19 for evidence of IMD. We searched PubMed, Web of Science, OVID (Embase) and MedRxiv for English- or French-language case series published between January 1, 2019 to September 26, 2020. We included series describing lung histology of ≥3 decedents, and authors were contacted for missing information as necessary.FindingsWe identified 51 case series describing autopsies of 702 decedents. Individual-level data was available for 430 decedents. The median age was 72 (IQR 61 to 80) years. Diabetes mellitus, pre-existing lung disease, and immunocompromising conditions were reported for 129 (32%), 95 (22%), and 25 (6%) decedents, respectively. The median hospitalization length was 10 (IQR 5-22) days. 51.6% of decedents had received mechanical ventilation for a median of nine (IQR 5-20) days. Treatment included immunomodulation in 60 (most often steroids or tocilizumab) and antifungals in 41 decedents. Eleven decedents (1·6%) had autopsy-confirmed IMD (6 with CAPA, 4 with invasive pulmonary mycosis not specified and 1 with disseminated mucormycosis). Among 173 decedents who received mechanical ventilation, 5 had IMD (2·9%).InterpretationAutopsy-proven IMD, including CAPA, is uncommon in fatal COVID-19.FundingThis study is unfundedCategoryReview


2021 ◽  
Vol 7 (10) ◽  
pp. 881
Author(s):  
David Ranhel ◽  
Ana Ribeiro ◽  
Judite Batista ◽  
Maria Pessanha ◽  
Elisabete Cristovam ◽  
...  

Invasive pulmonary aspergillosis (IPA) has become a recognizable complication in coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) patients admitted to intensive care units (ICUs). Alveolar damage in the context of acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS) appears to be the culprit in facilitating fungal invasion in COVID-19 patients, leading to a COVID-19-associated pulmonary aspergillosis (CAPA) phenomenon. From November 2020 to 15 February 2021, 248 COVID-19 patients were admitted to our ICUs, of whom ten patients (4% incidence) were classified as either probable (six) or possible (four) CAPA cases. Seven patients had positive cultural results: Aspergillus fumigatus sensu stricto (five), A. terreus sensu stricto (one), and A. welwitschiae (one). Five patients had positive bronchoalveolar lavage (BAL) and galactomannan (GM), and two patients had both positive cultural and GM criteria. All but two patients received voriconazole. Mortality rate was 30%. Strict interpretation of classic IPA definition would have resulted in eight overlooked CAPA cases. Broader diagnostic criteria are essential in this context, even though differentiation between Aspergillus colonization and invasive disease might be more challenging. Herein, we aim to raise awareness of CAPA in view of its potential detrimental outcome, emphasizing the relevance of a low threshold for screening and early antifungal treatment in ARDS patients.


2019 ◽  
Vol 69 (10) ◽  
pp. 1703-1711 ◽  
Author(s):  
Giri S Rajahram ◽  
Daniel J Cooper ◽  
Timothy William ◽  
Matthew J Grigg ◽  
Nicholas M Anstey ◽  
...  

Abstract Background Plasmodium knowlesi causes severe and fatal malaria, and incidence in Southeast Asia is increasing. Factors associated with death are not clearly defined. Methods All malaria deaths in Sabah, Malaysia, from 2015 to 2017 were identified from mandatory reporting to the Sabah Department of Health. Case notes were reviewed, and a systematic review of these and all previously reported fatal P. knowlesi cases was conducted. Case fatality rates (CFRs) during 2010–2017 were calculated using incidence data from the Sabah Department of Health. Results Six malaria deaths occurred in Sabah during 2015–2017, all from P. knowlesi. Median age was 40 (range, 23–58) years; 4 cases (67%) were male. Three (50%) had significant cardiovascular comorbidities and 1 was pregnant. Delays in administering appropriate therapy contributed to 3 (50%) deaths. An additional 26 fatal cases were included in the systematic review. Among all 32 cases, 18 (56%) were male; median age was 56 (range, 23–84) years. Cardiovascular-metabolic disease, microscopic misdiagnosis, and delay in commencing intravenous treatment were identified in 11 of 32 (34%), 26 of 29 (90%), and 11 of 31 (36%) cases, respectively. The overall CFR during 2010–2017 was 2.5/1000: 6.0/1000 for women and 1.7/1000 for men (P = .01). Independent risk factors for death included female sex (odds ratio, 2.6; P = .04), and age ≥45 years (odds ratio, 4.7; P < .01). Conclusions Earlier presentation, more rapid diagnosis, and administration of intravenous artesunate may avoid fatal outcomes, particularly in females, older adults, and patients with cardiovascular comorbidities.


2021 ◽  
Vol 0 (0) ◽  
Author(s):  
Alcivan Batista de Morais Filho ◽  
Thiago Luis de Holanda Rego ◽  
Letícia de Lima Mendonça ◽  
Sulyanne Saraiva de Almeida ◽  
Mariana Lima da Nóbrega ◽  
...  

Abstract Hemorrhagic stroke (HS) is a major cause of death and disability worldwide, despite being less common, it presents more aggressively and leads to more severe sequelae than ischemic stroke. There are two types of HS: Intracerebral Hemorrhage (ICH) and Subarachnoid Hemorrhage (SAH), differing not only in the site of bleeding, but also in the mechanisms responsible for acute and subacute symptoms. This is a systematic review of databases in search of works of the last five years relating to the comprehension of both kinds of HS. Sixty two articles composed the direct findings of the recent literature and were further characterized to construct the pathophysiology in the order of events. The road to the understanding of the spontaneous HS pathophysiology is far from complete. Our findings show specific and individual results relating to the natural history of the disease of ICH and SAH, presenting common and different risk factors, distinct and similar clinical manifestations at onset or later days to weeks, and possible complications for both.


2020 ◽  
Vol 7 (Supplement_1) ◽  
pp. S600-S601
Author(s):  
Dong Hoon Shin ◽  
Seung-Jin Yoo ◽  
Jongtak Jung ◽  
Kang Il Jun ◽  
Hyungjin Kim ◽  
...  

Abstract Background Invasive pulmonary aspergillosis (IPA) is a life-threatening opportunistic infection which usually occurs in immunocompromised patients. Recommended duration of voriconazole therapy is a minimum of 6-12 weeks for IPA, despite the lack of any firm evidence. In addition, risk factors for relapse of IPA are still unclear. Here, we explored risk factors for IPA relapse after initial treatment. Methods All patients with proven or probable IPA who had finished voriconazole treatment between 2005 and 2019 in a tertiary-care hospital were reviewed. IPA relapse was defined as re-diagnosis of proven or probable IPA at the same site within 1 year after treatment termination. Short course of voriconazole treatment was defined as a treatment less than 9 weeks, which is a median of the recommended minimum duration of therapy from the Infectious Disease Society of America. The radiological response was defined as a reduction in IPA burden by more than 50% on chest computed tomography (CT). Results Of 87 patients who had completed voriconazole treatment, 14 (16.1%) experienced IPA relapse. Multivariable Cox regression identified that short voriconazole treatment duration (adjusted hazard ratio [aHR], 3.7; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.1–12.3; P=0.033) and radiological non-response (aHR, 4.6; 95% CI, 1.2–17.5; P=0.026) were independently associated with relapse of IPA after adjusting for several clinical risk factors. Conclusion Less improvement in CT, and short duration of voriconazole therapy were the independent risk factors for relapse after treatment of IPA. Longer duration of therapy should be considered for those at higher risk of relapse. Disclosures All Authors: No reported disclosures


2021 ◽  
pp. 145749692110005
Author(s):  
S. Acosta ◽  
F. B. Gonçalves

Background and Aims: There are increasing reports on case series on spontaneous isolated mesenteric artery dissection, that is, dissections of the superior mesenteric artery and celiac artery, mainly due to improved diagnostic capacity of high-resolution computed tomography angiography performed around the clock. A few case–control studies are now available, while randomized controlled trials are awaited. Material and Methods: The present systematic review based on 97 original studies offers a comprehensive overview on risk factors, management, conservative therapy, morphological modeling of dissection, and prognosis. Results and Conclusions: Male gender, hypertension, and smoking are risk factors for isolated mesenteric artery dissection, while the frequency of diabetes mellitus is reported to be low. Large aortomesenteric angle has also been considered to be a factor for superior mesenteric artery dissection. The overwhelming majority of patients can be conservatively treated without the need of endovascular or open operations. Conservative therapy consists of blood pressure lowering therapy, analgesics, and initial bowel rest, whereas there is no support for antithrombotic agents. Complete remodeling of the dissection after conservative therapy was found in 43% at mid-term follow-up. One absolute indication for surgery and endovascular stenting of the superior mesenteric artery is development of peritonitis due to bowel infarction, which occurs in 2.1% of superior mesenteric artery dissections and none in celiac artery dissections. The most documented end-organ infarction in celiac artery dissections is splenic infarctions, which occurs in 11.2%, and is a condition that should be treated conservatively. The frequency of ruptured pseudoaneurysm in the superior mesenteric artery and celiac artery dissection is very rare, 0.4%, and none of these patients were in shock at presentation. Endovascular therapy with covered stents should be considered in these patients.


2021 ◽  
Vol 8 ◽  
Author(s):  
Masoud Dadashi ◽  
Saeedeh Khaleghnejad ◽  
Parisa Abedi Elkhichi ◽  
Mehdi Goudarzi ◽  
Hossein Goudarzi ◽  
...  

Background and Aim: Co-infection of COVID-19 with other respiratory pathogens which may complicate the diagnosis, treatment, and prognosis of COVID-19 emerge new concern. The overlap of COVID-19 and influenza, as two epidemics at the same time can occur in the cold months of the year. The aim of current study was to evaluate the rate of such co-infection as a systematic review and meta-analysis.Methods: A systematic literature search was performed on September 28, 2019 for original research articles published in Medline, Web of Science, and Embase databases from December 2019 to September 2020 using relevant keywords. Patients of all ages with simultaneous COVID-19 and influenza were included. Statistical analysis was performed using STATA 14 software.Results: Eleven prevalence studies with total of 3,070 patients with COVID-19, and 79 patients with concurrent COVID-19 and influenza were selected for final evaluation. The prevalence of influenza infection was 0.8% in patients with confirmed COVID-19. The frequency of influenza virus co-infection among patients with COVID-19 was 4.5% in Asia and 0.4% in the America. Four prevalence studies reported the sex of patients, which were 30 men and 31 women. Prevalence of co-infection with influenza in men and women with COVID-19 was 5.3 and 9.1%, respectively. Eight case reports and 7 case series with a total of 123 patients with COVID-19 were selected, 29 of them (16 men, 13 women) with mean age of 48 years had concurrent infection with influenza viruses A/B. Fever, cough, and shortness of breath were the most common clinical manifestations. Two of 29 patients died (6.9%), and 17 out of 29 patients recovered (58.6%). Oseltamivir and hydroxychloroquine were the most widely used drugs used for 41.4, and 31% of patients, respectively.Conclusion: Although a low proportion of COVID-19 patients have influenza co-infection, however, the importance of such co-infection, especially in high-risk individuals and the elderly, cannot be ignored. We were unable to report the exact rate of simultaneous influenza in COVID-19 patients worldwide due to a lack of data from several countries. Obviously, more studies are needed to evaluate the exact effect of the COVID-19 and influenza co-infection in clinical outcomes.


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