ABSTRACT
Background: Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19)-associated pulmonary aspergillosis (CAPA) is a life-threatening invasive fungal infection in critically ill patients with COVID-19. However, only a few studies have reported CAPA in the Republic of Korea. Objective: To describe clinical characteristics of CAPA in patients at a tertiary care hospital in the Republic of Korea. Methods: This retrospective, observational consecutive case series study was conducted by reviewing the electronic medical records of patients who developed CAPA at Seoul National University Hospital from January 1, 2020, to August 31, 2021. CAPA was defined by European Confederation of Medical Mycology/International Society for Human and Animal Mycology (ECMM/ISHAM) consensus criteria. Patient demographics, comorbidities, corticosteroid use, clinical presentation, treatment, and outcomes were investigated. Results: Eleven patients were diagnosed with probable CAPA according to the ECMM/ISHAM criteria. One patient had classical host factor for invasive pulmonary aspergillosis before admission. All patients received corticosteroid therapy before CAPA diagnosis. The mean total corticosteroid administered before CAPA diagnosis was 220 mg of dexamethasone equivalent dose (range, 80~572 mg), and the mean duration of steroid therapy was 15 days (range, 4~34 days). The median time from intensive care unit admission to CAPA diagnosis was 12 days (range, 5~36 days). All individuals showed aggravation on chest X-rays. Ten patients were diagnosed with positive serum galactomannan (GM), and one was diagnosed with positive GM in a bronchoalveolar lavage specimen. Of the 11 patients, 8 received voriconazole-based antifungal therapy for a median of 30.5 days. Only two patients survived after antifungal treatment. Conclusion: These cases illustrate CAPA complicated in critically ill COVID-19 patients. The challenges in diagnosis and poor outcomes of CAPA emphasize the clinical suspicion and needs for further investigation. Copyright@2022 by The Korean Society for Medical Mycology. All right reserved.
ABSTRACT
Background: There are few data about long-term respiratory complications following Middle East Respiratory Syndrome coronavirus (MERS-CoV) infection. This study aimed to evaluate respiratory functions and radiologic sequelae according to the severity of infection one year after the patients experienced MERS-CoV infection. Methods: A total of 73 patients undergoing MERS-CoV infection during the 2015 MERS outbreak in South Korea were enrolled in this prospective multicenter study. Pulmonary function tests and 6-minute walking tests were performed 1 year after infection. Radiologic sequelae was defined as fibrosis or atelectasis on chest computer tomography and severe pneumonia was defined as that requiring oxygen therapy. Multivariate linear regression tests were used to evaluate the effect of infection severity on respiratory function. Results: At the time of MERS-CoV infection, 18 patients had no pneumonia, 35 experienced mild pneumonia, and 20 did severe pneumonia. The median age was not different between groups (P = 0.942). Forced vital capacity (FVC) was 102.6%, 94.9%, and 88.7% in the no, mild, and severe pneumonia group, respectively (P = 0.010) and forced expiratory volume in 1 second was 105.3%, 95.7%, and 91.7% (P = 0.057). Diffusing capacity (DLCO) was significantly lower in the severe pneumonia group than in the no or mild pneumonia group (78.3% vs. 89.4% or 88.6%, P = 0.035). In multivariate analyses, FVC and DLCO were significantly correlated with infection severity after adjustment with age, sex, underlying lung disease, and smoking. There was no difference in the walking distance of 6 minute tests between groups. Radiologic sequelae were shown in 18.8%, 65.6%, and 100% in the no, mild, and severe pneumonia group, respectively (P < 0.001). Conclusion: The patients with more severe pneumonia by MERS-CoV had more impaired respiratory function in one year follow-up, which was compatible with radiologic sequelae. Disclosures: All authors: No reported disclosures. FAU - Il Jun, Kang