ABSTRACT
Introduction and importance: Although some immunocompetent patients have developed invasive aspergillosis, the vast majority of cases are seen in immunocompromised patients. COVID-19 infection has been proposed to cause immune dysfunction or suppression, which predisposes patients to fungal co-infections such as mucormycosis and aspergillosis. Case presentation: A 58-year-old woman was admitted to the hospital with confusion, dysarthria, and loss of consciousness. The patient had a 1-month prior history of severe COVID-19 infection. A computerized tomography (CT) scan and a magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) revealed an intraventricular lesion with perilesional edema and a significant midline shift, which was initially thought to be an intraventricular tumor. Following a posterior parietal craniotomy, the lesion was resected via a transcortical approach from the posterior parietal region to the right lateral ventricle. Histopathological findings confirmed intraventricular aspergillosis (IVA). The patient was treated with intravenous amphotericin B for two months and discharged with oral variconazole for 4 months. Discussion: Covid-19 infections can result in- dissemination of fungal diseases such as aspergillosis. As a minor component of cerebral aspergillosis with a poor prognosis, intraventricular aspergillosis necessitates prompt treatment, which includes surgical resection and the administration of anti-fungal medications. Conclusion: Infection with COVID-19 causes immune dysfunction, which leads to fungal co-infection, including CNS aspergillosis. As a result, all COVID-19 patients who present with acute neurologic symptoms should have CNS aspergillosis considered in their differential diagnosis.
ABSTRACT
Liver transplant recipients are at an increased risk of opportunistic infections due to the use of immunosuppression. Coronavirus disease of 2019 (COVID-19) increases the risk of these infections further due to associated immune dysfunction and the use of high-dose steroids. We present a case of a liver transplant recipient who developed disseminated tuberculosis and invasive pulmonary aspergillosis complicated by acquired hemophagocytic lymphohistiocytosis after recovering from severe COVID-19.
ABSTRACT
Invasive pulmonary aspergillosis, known as a complication in patients with severe respiratory syndromes, recently showed a correlation with COVID-19 pneumonia, and the clinical characteristics of COVID-19 associated pulmonary aspergillosis (CAPA) have been described. Unfortunately, infections by the Aspergillus genus are often diagnosed in post-mortem time, because of diagnostic delays and a rapid worsening of respiratory conditions. Literature data document, in fact, only few cases of COVID-19 Aspergillus niger coinfection. The aim of this study was to describe a case of a VAP-related probable pulmonary aspergillosis by Aspergillus niger in a COVID-19 patient. Despite the definition of fungal etiology and the rapid administration of antifungal therapy, the patient died while on ventilator support because of severe respiratory impairment.