Subject(s)
COVID-19/diagnosis , Coinfection/diagnosis , Invasive Pulmonary Aspergillosis/diagnosis , Mucormycosis/diagnosis , Amphotericin B/therapeutic use , Antifungal Agents/therapeutic use , Aspergillus fumigatus/isolation & purification , COVID-19/complications , Coinfection/complications , Coinfection/drug therapy , Fatal Outcome , Humans , Immunocompromised Host , Invasive Pulmonary Aspergillosis/complications , Invasive Pulmonary Aspergillosis/drug therapy , Male , Microbial Sensitivity Tests , Middle Aged , Mucormycosis/complications , Mucormycosis/drug therapy , Polymerase Chain Reaction/methods , Rhizopus/isolation & purification , SARS-CoV-2/isolation & purification , Viral LoadABSTRACT
Mucormycosis is an invasive fungal infection (IFI) due to several species of saprophytic fungi, occurring in patients with underlying co-morbidities (including organ transplantation). During the ongoing Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic, there have been increasing reports of bacterial and fungal co-infections occurring in COVID-19 patients, including COVID-19 associated pulmonary aspergillosis (CAPA). We describe a case of mucormycosis occurring after COVID-19, in an individual who received a recent heart transplant for severe heart failure. Two months after heart transplant, our patient developed upper respiratory and systemic symptoms and was diagnosed with COVID-19. He was managed with convalescent plasma therapy and supportive care. Approximately three months after COVID-19 diagnosis, he developed cutaneous mucormycosis at an old intravascular device site. He underwent extensive surgical interventions, combined with broad-spectrum antifungal therapy. Despite the aggressive therapeutic measures, he died after a prolonged hospital stay. In this case report, we also review the prior well-reported cases of mucormycosis occurring in COVID-19 patients and discuss potential mechanisms by which COVID-19 may predispose to IFIs. Similar to CAPA, mucormycosis with COVID-19 may need to be evaluated as an emerging disease association. Clinicians should be vigilant to evaluate for invasive fungal infections such as mucormycosis in patients with COVID-19 infection.
Subject(s)
COVID-19/complications , Heart Transplantation , Invasive Fungal Infections/complications , Mucormycosis/complications , Postoperative Complications/etiology , Rhizopus/isolation & purification , Aged , Anti-Infective Agents/therapeutic use , Bacteremia/complications , Bacteremia/drug therapy , Bacteremia/microbiology , COVID-19/therapy , Catheter-Related Infections/drug therapy , Catheter-Related Infections/etiology , Coinfection/drug therapy , Coinfection/microbiology , Combined Modality Therapy , Contraindications, Drug , Debridement , Dermatomycoses/drug therapy , Dermatomycoses/etiology , Disease Susceptibility , Fatal Outcome , Heart Failure/surgery , Humans , Hydroxychloroquine/therapeutic use , Immunization, Passive , Immunosuppressive Agents/adverse effects , Immunosuppressive Agents/therapeutic use , Intra-Aortic Balloon Pumping/instrumentation , Invasive Fungal Infections/drug therapy , Male , Mucormycosis/drug therapy , Mucormycosis/microbiology , Negative-Pressure Wound Therapy , Opportunistic Infections/complications , Opportunistic Infections/drug therapy , Opportunistic Infections/microbiology , Postoperative Complications/drug therapy , Postoperative Complications/microbiology , Postoperative Complications/virology , Surgical Wound Infection/complications , Surgical Wound Infection/drug therapy , Surgical Wound Infection/microbiology , Surgical Wound Infection/surgery , COVID-19 SerotherapyABSTRACT
Severe coronavirus disease (COVID-19) is currently managed with systemic glucocorticoids. Opportunistic fungal infections are of concern in such patients. While COVID-19 associated pulmonary aspergillosis is increasingly recognized, mucormycosis is rare. We describe a case of probable pulmonary mucormycosis in a 55-year-old man with diabetes, end-stage kidney disease, and COVID-19. The index case was diagnosed with pulmonary mucormycosis 21 days following admission for severe COVID-19. He received 5 g of liposomal amphotericin B and was discharged after 54 days from the hospital. We also performed a systematic review of the literature and identified seven additional cases of COVID-19 associated mucormycosis (CAM). Of the eight cases included in our review, diabetes mellitus was the most common risk factor. Three subjects had no risk factor other than glucocorticoids for COVID-19. Mucormycosis usually developed 10-14 days after hospitalization. All except the index case died. In two subjects, CAM was diagnosed postmortem. Mucormycosis is an uncommon but serious infection that complicates the course of severe COVID-19. Subjects with diabetes mellitus and multiple risk factors may be at a higher risk for developing mucormycosis. Concurrent glucocorticoid therapy probably heightens the risk of mucormycosis. A high index of suspicion and aggressive management is required to improve outcomes.