Corticosteroid therapy associated with COVID-19: an ally or a risk factor for the establishment of secondary fungal co-infections?
Clin. biomed. res
;
42(4): 369-377, 2022. ilus
Article
in English
| LILACS
| ID: biblio-1513216
ABSTRACT
Corticosteroid therapy to combat inflammation caused by SARS-CoV-2 seems to be a risk factor for developing secondary fungal co-infections. PubMed and ScienceDirect databases were searched, with the following word groups [(aspergillosis OR mucormycosis OR candidiasis) AND (coronavirus disease) AND (corticoids). The selected articles present the main risk factors related to the establishment of secondary fungal co-infections in COVID-19 patients. Corticosteroid therapy used to combat inflammation caused by SARS-CoV-2 has been shown to be strongly associated with the establishment of mucormycosis and aspergillosis. Mucormycosis has been the main fungal co-infection related to corticosteroid therapy, causing a high number of deaths in COVID-19 patients. Diabetes mellitus was the most prevalent comorbidity, especially for the establishment of mucormycosis. Dexamethasone use seems to be associated with mucormycosis emergence and death. However, aspergillosis showed a greater relationship with patient recovery. Thus, risk factors such as diabetes mellitus, combined with corticosteroid use, have shown a relationship to the establishment of mucormycosis. The corticosteroids used in COVID-19 patients should be individually analyzed, considering the patient's medical history and the risk/benefit ratio of the use of these drugs.
Subject(s)
Full text:
Available
Index:
LILACS (Americas)
Main subject:
Adrenal Cortex Hormones
/
COVID-19
/
COVID-19 Drug Treatment
Language:
English
Journal:
Clin. biomed. res
Journal subject:
Medicine
Year:
2022
Type:
Article
Affiliation country:
Brazil
Institution/Affiliation country:
Hospital de Clínicas de Porto Alegre/BR
/
Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Sul/BR
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