Confirmed Invasive Pulmonary Aspergillosis and COVID-19: the value of postmortem findings to support antemortem management

Rev Soc Bras Med Trop. 2020:53:e20200401. doi: 10.1590/0037-8682-0401-2020. Epub 2020 Jul 3.

Abstract

We present postmortem evidence of invasive pulmonary aspergillosis (IPA) in a patient with severe COVID-19. Autopsies of COVID-19 confirmed cases were performed. The patient died despite antimicrobials, mechanical ventilation, and vasopressor support. Histopathology and peripheral blood galactomannan antigen testing confirmed IPA. Aspergillus penicillioides infection was confirmed by nucleotide sequencing and BLAST analysis. Further reports are needed to assess the occurrence and frequency of IPA in SARS-CoV-2 infections, and how they interact clinically.

Publication types

  • Case Reports

MeSH terms

  • Aged
  • Aspergillus / genetics
  • Aspergillus / isolation & purification*
  • Autopsy
  • Betacoronavirus*
  • COVID-19
  • Coronavirus Infections / complications
  • Coronavirus Infections / pathology*
  • Fatal Outcome
  • Humans
  • Invasive Pulmonary Aspergillosis / complications
  • Invasive Pulmonary Aspergillosis / pathology*
  • Lung / microbiology
  • Male
  • Pandemics
  • Pneumonia, Viral / complications
  • Pneumonia, Viral / pathology*
  • SARS-CoV-2